Flares ripped at Sydney Opera House as pro-Palestinian supporters protest

Flares ripped at Sydney Opera House as pro-Palestinian supporters protest against the lighting of sails in the colours of Israeli flag.
Several hundred people have marched on the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening, in protest of the decision to light the sails in the colours of the Israeli flag.
NSW Premier Chris Minns had announced on Sunday that the sails would be lit "in solidarity with the Jewish Communities across New South Wales".

The protest came after Hamas militants committed kidnappings and acts of terror over the weekend, killing hundreds of people in Israel, prompting a declaration of war against Hamas and air strikes in Gaza.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the march in Sydney to be abandoned.

"I absolutely believe [the march] should not [go ahead]. I think people need to really take a step back," he said.
He added that the killing and capture of innocent civilians going about their business should be condemned.

Nonetheless those involved in the march were not deterred and flares and fireworks were lit in the crowd and thrown onto the forecourt steps, where rows of police officers were monitoring the situation.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans like "free Palestine" and "shame Israel".
The rally began at 5.30pm at Town Hall, where a group of about 500 people heard from a number of speakers about the Palestinian cause.

The march came a day after a pro-Palestinian rally that took place on Sunday night in Lakemba drew condemnation from Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

"Whatever people's views are about the history of this conflict, we can never condone the targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages and I'm sure that is something many Australians can agree with," she said.

"I would urge people to recall what is happening on the ground to individuals at this time."
A couple of days ago, a Facebook event for the rally was posted by Palestine Action Group Sydney, titled Rally for a Free Palestine: No war on Gaza.

After about an hour, the crowd marched through the CBD to the Opera House in time for the sails to be lit at 7.30pm.
There was a brief interruption before they headed off, when a man unveiled an Israeli flag nearby. Speakers asked the crowd to remain focused as police escorted the man away.

NSW Police said he was arrested, but no further action would be taken.

"Officers observed a man approaching the large group carrying a flag," police said in a statement.

"He was arrested and removed by police to prevent a breach of the peace.

"The man was issued a move-on direction and released. No further action will be taken."
The ABC spoke to rally attendee Saja Saleh, who said her family was Palestinian and had spent time in refugee camps.

"It's heartbreaking that seeing civilians are being killed and it's heartbreaking that people now want to say something … but when Palestinians are being killed no one pays attention," she said.
"I'm for peace but with justice, not peace that guarantees Israelis live their lives and Palestinians are being oppressed and they are quiet about it."

Another attendee Leila Moslemani said she was concerned about Israeli retaliation.

"It's always been about peace, the Palestinians have endured this for over half a century. Their only source of weapons has been rocks and stones," she said.

Police said no one was arrested over the setting off of flares at the Opera House, and no one was injured.