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Sarah Schwartz targeted with online abuse over Gaza advocacy

newsJul 2, 2026321,262

Sarah Schwartz, executive director of the Jewish Council of Australia, told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that pro-Israel and neo-Nazi accounts mounted an online harassment campaign against her after she took the role. Schwartz said she was called a traitor, a rat and "Hitler's Jew" and was sent images of herself wearing a yellow star and on a train to a concentration camp. The Jewish Council of Australia, formed after the October 7, 2023 attacks and representing about 2,500 Jewish people who support Palestinians, advocates for Palestinian rights, which Schwartz says directly provoked the abuse. Schwartz told the commission she received a voluminous number of offensive messages from high-profile pro-Israel actors and that neo-Nazi language appeared in attacks soon after she was named executive director. She said she reported threats to Victoria Police, who without her knowledge applied for a personal protection order on her behalf and which she learned about only when a newspaper contacted her. Schwartz warned that using Holocaust imagery to police Jewish identity chills other Jewish people from speaking about the Israeli government and said government responses have disproportionately focused on policing Palestinian and Muslim communities rather than confronting antisemitism from the far right. The commission is scheduled to hear evidence from NSW Police and the eSafety Commissioner today.

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JCA’s Sarah Schwartz tells the Royal Commission that she’s contacted every day by Jews “terrified of speaking out” to criticise Israel or to support Palestinians, in fear of being abused or vilified. Says Israel ‘shields itself from a lot of criticism’ by claiming to be the victim💥

31545d ago
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