Hate Writ Large Across Our City

Locals fear the spread of “hate speech” as authorities scramble to respond to a spike in pro-Hamas graffiti in Sydney’s east, where 11 more incidents were reported yesterday.

A phone box opposite a ­kosher supermarket in Bondi’s main shopping strip was among the latest locations to be vandalised with the word “Hamas”, scrawled in red, green, black or white.

Discoveries of the graffiti began last week and continued with another spate reported by residents on Monday night.

The graffiti “tag” has been done on the sides of bus stops, council rubbish bins, train stations, street signs, utility infrastructure and on the phone box opposite Krinskys supermarket on Bondi Rd, with the owner believing the location was “probably deliberate”.

The graffiti has also been scrawled outside Bronte Beach Public School and along a ­section of the popular Bondi to Bronte walk.

Residents have speculated the graffiti may be the work of multiple people, due to the differing styles used.

One resident, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns, believed some of the graffiti was also deliberately “left to drip like blood” to make the messages appear “more menacing”.

David Ossip, from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, believed the vandalism was a “deliberate attempt to intimidate the Jewish community”.

“It’s absolutely despicable,” he said. “Hamas is a terrorist organisation guilty of the most heinous crimes and there are people here in Australia not only celebrating their atrocities but deliberately glorifying them.

“We are absolutely being ­targeted.

“The individuals responsible must be identified and prosecuted.”

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said the council was taking immediate action to have the graffiti removed.

“The level of the graffiti has increased over the last week and we’re acting on it as soon as we’re told because it’s hugely upsetting for our community,” she said. “Hamas is a registered terrorist organisation and we don’t cop this sort of vandalism.”

The graffiti incidents come amid rising reports of anti-Semitism in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with other recent incidents including the theft of an Israeli flag from the Woollahra Council building late last year.

Charlie Mcilroy, 25, who has lived in the eastern suburbs his whole life, said he “wasn’t surprised” to see areas like Bondi targeted.

“It’s a shame that Sydneysiders are so divided,” he said.

“I wish others would be a little more accepting of each other’s religious beliefs.

“I understand there is conflict but we shouldn’t have to bring it to our doorsteps.

“Instead there is hate speech that is spreading.”

Police urged anyone with information to contact Waverley Police Station on 9369 9899.