Commissioner rebukes claim pro-Palestinian groups tried to 'hijack' hearing

Lead

A senior commissioner rebuked suggestions that pro-Palestinian groups had tried to "hijack" a royal commission hearing, as the inquiry examined how police respond to protests in the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and its aftermath.

The exchange unfolded on Tuesday during the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, where counsel for the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) and the Palestine Action Group were permitted to question David Ossip, president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, about the impact of a pro-Palestinian rally held in Sydney just days after the attack.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia's reporting focused on two central dimensions: Mr Ossip's "appalling" description of the rally's conduct, and the commissioner's response to allegations that pro-Palestinian groups were attempting to "hijack" the inquiry through "clickbait theatrics and gratuitous slurs." The broadcaster's coverage highlighted the tension between Jewish community concerns over the timing and conduct of the protest, and Palestinian Australians' fears for their own community.

The second article detailed a pointed cross-examination by APAN's counsel, Ragni Mathur SC, who sought to place the rally in the context of the profound fear felt by Palestinian Australians after the Hamas attack and before Israel's military response. The commissioner's remarks were framed as a defense of counsel's line of questioning, rejecting the notion that the inquiry had been improperly influenced.

Key Claims

Timeline of the October 2023 Attack and Rally

All reporting traced the story back to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which Israelis were killed and taken hostage. In response, a pro-Palestinian rally was organized by the Palestine Action Group in Sydney. Originally expected to be confined to the area around Town Hall, the march eventually extended to the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023.

As the commission heard, the Opera House was intended to be lit in solidarity with Australian Jews and Israelis on the same evening, with a vigil planned for the community. Instead, the two events clashed in both location and sentiment.

Jewish Community's Response

Mr Ossip said he learned of the rally on the evening of October 7, shortly after the first confirmed news of the attack. He described the protesters' conduct as "appalling" and expressed concern about the timing, saying the rally's organization showed "insensitivity" given the real violence against Israeli citizens. He admitted to the commission that his community, traumatized and in grief, was told to avoid the Central Business District due to safety concerns.

Evidence indicated that the Community Security Group NSW had communicated with New South Wales Police over security concerns. On police advice, the Jewish Board of Deputies told the Jewish community to avoid the Town Hall and the Opera House areas on the night of the protest and to exercise extra vigilance if in the surrounding areas.

The rally reportedly featured chants of "where's the Jews?" and "f* the Jews," and an Israeli flag was set alight, details included in the commission's evidence.

Commissioner's Response

Virginia Bell, the commissioner, responded directly to criticism from a "prominent member of the Jewish community" — implied to relate to Mr Ossip's remarks — who accused pro-Palestinian groups of "attempting to hijack" the inquiry through "clickbait theatrics and gratuitous slurs."

While the specific remark is not quoted in the material, Ms. Bell stated that counsel for APAN did not hijack the inquiry. Her response was reported as rejecting the accusation in full.

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Crucially, the Evidence of the Cross-Examination

During the hearing, counsel for APAN, Ragni Mathur SC, pressed Mr Ossip specifically on his earlier evidence that he found it "insensitive" that the protest was called on October 7. Ms Mathur asked whether he appreciated that Palestinian Australians were likewise "filled with deep fear" for family and community members in the occupied territories.

Mr Ossip replied that all citizens should show "kindness and respect and understanding and sensitivity to others," but he stood by his earlier position, emphasizing that those grievous acts were committed against Israeli citizens. Coincidentally, the dialogue touched on the timeline of Israel's subsequent military action in the Gaza Strip, with Ms Mathur asking about the number of Palestinians killed before October 7 — a line of questioning Mr Ossip said he was not able to answer.

The exchange highlighted a deep chasm in perspectives: one community mourning the attack and wanting to protest against her own safety, the other grappling with the trauma and uncertainty for their family and homeland.

Context and Coordination

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Derived, officially named the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, is examining how police respond to protests, using as case studies the October 2023 pro-Palestinian protest between Town Hall and Sydney Opera House, and a neo-Nazi rally outside the New South Wales Parliament in November 2025. The inclusion of both protests is intended to assess consistency and fairness in policing.

APAN and the Palestine Action Group were both granted leave to appear and question witnesses, indicating the commission's diplomacy in an deeply polarizing issue.

Attribution

All of the reporting in this article is attributed to ABC Australia, which first published both pieces covering the hearing on

Perspectives

• Jewish Community Perspective: David Ossip, president of the Jewish Board of Deputies (NSW), views the rally as "appalling" and its timing as insensitive, given the recent murder of Israeli civilians. He expressed concern for the community's safety, as police advised avoidance of major CBD locations.

• Palestinian Advocacy Group Perspective: Counsel for APAN, Ragni Mathur SC gently pushed back on the characterization of the protest, highlighting that Palestinian Australians also feared for their future and the fate of people in occupied territories. The subgroup's questioning sought to contextualize the rally within a broader community experience of concern.