Man Charged After Alleged Attack on Pro-Palestine Petitioner at Sydney Shopping Centre

Russell Campbell, 53, of Merrylands, has been charged with common assault and harassment following an incident at Stockland Merrylands shopping centre in March 2026.

The accused allegedly approached a 29-year-old man who was collecting signatures for a pro-Palestine petition and pushed him, causing him to fall. Campbell is scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court on May 13.

Campbell allegedly pushed a man collecting pro-Palestine petition signatures, causing him to fall.

Previous Incident at Same Centre

In a separate incident on October 9, 2025, Campbell allegedly slapped Jihad El Cheikh on the back of the head at the same shopping centre after an exchange about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At that time, police did not proceed with an investigation, stating they could not identify any offences. Campbell was subsequently banned from the centre.

Ties to Israeli Defence Force Support Program

Social media posts indicate that Campbell volunteered with the Sar-El program, a non-combat logistics support program for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), from December 2024 to January 2025.

Broader Context: Reported Rise in Anti-Palestinian Incidents

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has reported 264 anti-Palestinian incidents in Australia between November 2025 and February 2026, with 8% involving physical violence. APAN president Nasser Mashni stated the report indicates that anti-Palestinian sentiment is becoming normalised.