Pro-Palestinian, pro-Israel protesters clash in Australia after burger shop blaze

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters in Melbourne, coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, following suspected arson at a pro-Palestinian burger shop, local media reported on Saturday.

Fighting broke out near the burger store between the protesters late Friday and police used pepper spray to disperse the demonstrators, local broadcaster SBS reported.

Police said they are investigating the cause of the fire at the burger store which was owned by a pro-Palestinian Hash Tayeh.

At least one person got minor injuries after being hit by a rock while one man was pepper-sprayed and removed from the area, according to the report.

The burger chain's founder Tayeh called the fire a hate crime after he took part in a pro-Palestinian rally.

“Two weeks ago, we started receiving threats,” the broadcaster quoted Tayeh as saying.

“My voice will not be silenced. I will be out there every Sunday calling for a cease-fire and calling for peace,” Tayeh added.

However, Victoria police said that they are investigating a suspicious fire at a business in Caulfield this morning.

“The building was completely destroyed, and the fire is being treated as suspicious,” said the police in a statement, published on their website.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "The violence in Caulfield is unacceptable."

"There is no place for violence, no place for antisemitism and no place for Islamophobia in Australia. People come to Australia because they want to live in a country that is peaceful, tolerant and respectful. We all must protect that," she said on X.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid