Avi Yemini, who is a Jewish-Australian journalist with Rebel News, had been reporting from Swanston Street since about 3.44pm when a Victoria Police officer took hold of him by the neck, just after a mob of pro-Hamas supporters tried to get at the Rebel News Crew . Moments after grabbing Yemini around the neck, the same officer appeared to threaten him. "I live in North Caulfield, I'll f--king see you..." he can be heard saying on the footage. 

Police were there to protect the public according to the Victorian Labor government. Instead they laid hands on the one Jewish-Australian journalist recording what was happening, while the people glorifying the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust carried on undisturbed.

Avi was on the street doing his job when a police officer went for his throat, then threatened him on camera. It is not only pro-Hamas mobs Avi has to be kept safe from. Even the people meant to protect and serve are getting violent. Stand with him today and help cover the security team that keeps Avi and the crew safe at PROTECTAVI.COM.

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The event, billed as a “Vigil for Gaza” and run by the Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, took over the library’s lawn and forecourt from 10am. The organisers’ own listing said it was for “honouring Palestinian martyrs”. Staging that tribute on the anniversary of Hamas’s massacre made it a gathering of Hamas supporters glorifying the attack.

The crowd grew from about 70 terror-supporting activists in the morning to hundreds by late afternoon. According to other media reports a speaker told the crowd that Anzac soldiers had "participated in the act of genocide", and when one man asked where the Australian flag was, more than a dozen activists told him to "f--k off".

Hamas has been listed as a terrorist organisation in its entirety under the Criminal Code since 4 March 2022. On 7 October 2023, about 1,200 people were murdered and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll warned the organisers on 23 September that "police will take the steps necessary to protect the public" if the event went ahead. On the day, the police force he oversees went after the journalists working in the Australian publics interest instead.

Rebel News will publish its full report, including more footage of the attacks, tomorrow.