Sydney Library Removes Book Accusing Israel of Gaza 'Genocide' After Community Complaint

The Waverley Library in Sydney has temporarily removed the book "How to Sell a Genocide," which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and criticizes the American media for complicity in Gaza's destruction. This decision followed a complaint from a survivor of the Bondi Beach massacre, who argued that a book with anti-Israel content should not be displayed near the site of the attack that targeted the local Jewish community. The Waverley Council announced it would review its book selection processes to ensure stricter oversight, noting that book acquisitions are managed by an external agency rather than council employees.

Author Adam Johnson criticized the removal, stating that the term "genocide" reflects a global human rights consensus and questioned whether books supporting Israel might also be removed if they offend other groups. The incident has reignited public debate in Australia about freedom of expression, attitudes toward Israel, and the rise in antisemitic incidents since the outbreak of the recent conflict.