US Consulate in North Sydney vandalised with 'Free Gaza' graffiti
The US Consulate in North Sydney was attacked with paint and graffiti overnight, in an apparent message to the White House to put more pressure on Israel over its Gaza invasion.
Police were called to the building on Miller Street at 4.30am and are investigating the incident.
"Freee (sic) Gaza" was written in large red letters on the street front windows, while bright pink paint was splashed against three more panes.
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The US Consulate building in North Sydney was defaced with 'Free Gaza' graffiti and other paint. 9News
Israel invaded Gaza after Hamas launched an attack on October 7 which killed some 1200 people and saw the taking of 250 others hostage. Roughly half the hostages were released during a short cease-fire in November.
Six months after the invasion began, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
Gaza's Health Ministry said today at least 32,782 Palestinians have been killed in the war.
The ministry's count does not differentiate between civilians and fighters, but it has said that women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.
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Police are investigating a graffiti attack on the US Consulate on Miller St, North Sydney. 9News
Israel says over one-third of the dead are militants, though it has not provided evidence, and it blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in residential areas.
Today Israelis staged the largest protest since the war began to increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Last week the US angered Israel after the UN Security Council passed an immediate ceasefire resolution for Gaza, and it abstained from voting.
Israel responded by cancelling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.
The US decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden's administration and Netanyahu over Israel's prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza.
The two countries have also clashed over Netanyahu's rejection of a Palestinian state, Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the expansion of settlements there.
With agencies.
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