A police review has found no evidence the anti-Semitic phrase ‘gas the Jews’ was shouted during a wild protest at the Sydney Opera House, a NSW Police investigation has found.
Instead, the menacing phrase ‘where’s the Jews’ was shouted instead – but detectives could not determine the exact perpetrator, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
Edited footage purporting to show protesters chanting ‘gas the Jews’ was shared by the Australian Jewish Association with news organisations after the snap rally on the steps of the Opera House on October 9.
The rally was sparked by a decision to light the Opera House’s sails in the colours of the Israeli flag after the Hamas attack that sparked the latest Israel-Gaza conflict.
The apparent use of the grossly offensive phrase sparked widespread condemnation and changes to hate-crimes laws.
There were scenes of chaos as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims – some wearing black masks – beneath the steps of the Opera House (pictured)
But Lanyon said in a statement that following an ‘independent forensic analysis of audio-video files of the demonstration provided to investigators, police have no evidence that this phrase was used.’
‘Police also obtained statements from several individuals who attended the protest indicating they heard the phrase, however, these statements have not attributed the phrase to any specific individual.’
In a response, Alex Ryvchin, co-executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News Australia that the issue at play ‘isn’t the precise wording’.
‘A violent mob of thugs gathered in one of our most cherished sites to burn and Israeli flag… and direct hatred and abuse and threats to their fellow Australians.’
He agreed with anchor Laura Jayes’ comment that the protesters weren’t chanting ‘where’s the Jews … to give them a hug’.
‘Whether it was eff the Jews, gas the Jews… it’s the sentiment,’ Mr Ryvchin said.
