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New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has announced plans to ban the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan, labeling it hate speech after the massacre of 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach.
Minns announced on Saturday the slogan would be added to a list of prohibited phrases under emergency reforms unveiled after the terrorist attack, the worst-ever act of antisemitic violence in Australian history.
“I will insist that ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is included in that list of hateful, violent rhetoric in New South Wales,” Minns said.
He stressed that public marches using violent imagery can trigger consequences beyond organizers’ control. “When you see people marching and showing violent bloody images, images of death and destruction, it’s unleashing something in our community that the organizers of the protest can’t contain,” Minns warned.
The Dec. 14 attack took place at Bondi Beach during a public Hanukkah gathering. As a result, law enforcement agencies in Australia and the United Kingdom have begun reassessing how they respond to extremist political rhetoric.
Police Gain Broader Authority Over Protests
Following the massacre, New South Wales officials introduced sweeping legislative and policing measures. Under the proposed changes, police can shut down unauthorized demonstrations for up to three months.
In addition, officers can require protesters to remove face coverings. The reforms also ban the public display of flags or symbols linked to designated terrorist organizations, including ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.
Minns said recent events clarified the danger posed by the slogan itself. “Horrific, recent events have shown that the chant ‘Globalize the Intifada’ is hate speech and encourages violence in our community,” he said. “You’re running a very risky racket if you’re thinking of using that phrase.”
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the Office of National Intelligence identified a online video feed that reinforced the “ISIS-inspired” nature of the attack.
Investigators said 50-year-old Sajid Akram carried out the massacre alongside his 24-year-old son, Naveed. After waking from a coma in a Sydney hospital, Naveed was formally charged.
Britain Tightens Enforcement After “Changed Context”
The impact of the Bondi Beach attack quickly reached Britain. Police forces, including the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police, announced plans to arrest individuals who chant “Globalize the Intifada” or display related signs.
British authorities cited a “changed context” following the Sydney massacre. They also pointed to a prior Yom Kippur attack in Manchester. Together, those incidents prompted stricter enforcement.
According to Home Office data, police have already made hundreds of arrests under terrorism legislation. Enforcement efforts have focused in particular on supporters of the banned group Palestine Action.
Growing Pressure Over Security Failures
In Australia, the attack has intensified calls for a federal Royal Commission into possible security failures. Critics argue that authorities missed multiple warning signs.
They point to a 2019 assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, which concluded that the elder Akram posed “no ongoing threat.” They also highlight the household’s firearms license for six weapons, issued in 2023.
Former Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley have raised further concerns. In particular, they cited the pair’s recent travel to an ISIS hotspot in Mindanao, Philippines, just weeks before the attack.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
