A MAN pleaded guilty today to displaying a Nazi symbol during a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney in early October.

Alan Yazbek was photographed at the October 6 rally in Sydney’s central business district holding a sign that replaced the Star of David on the Israeli flag with a blue swastika, accompanied by the words “stop Nazi Israel.”

Mr Yazbek was also photographed holding another sign in the green and yellow colours associated with Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, with the words “our boys in green and gold will win.”

The rally took place a day before the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, carried out by Hamas.

Mr Yazbek, the co-founder of the Nomad Group, which owns three high-end restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, was the only person charged following the rally, which saw an estimated 10,000 people in attendance. 

Mr Yazbek faces a potential sentence of up to 12 months in jail or a fine of 11,000 Australian dollars (£5,580). He is due to be sentenced on December 10.

Performing Nazi gestures and displaying Nazi symbols such as the swastika have been banned by various state and federal laws since 2022. 

Jewish groups in Australia have reported a significant rise in anti-semitic actions as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.