Pro-Palestinian candidate’s sermon alarms ahead of Blaxland election battle

A pro-Palestinian candidate mounting a serious challenge in the federal seat of Blaxland has sparked outrage after telling worshippers during a sermon, “I felt like I was dead, and 7th of October gave me life.”

The remarks, delivered by Ahmed Ouf at Masjid Al-Bayt Al-Islami in Edmondson Park last November, have been condemned by Jewish community leaders as inflammatory and deeply concerning.

Ouf, currently a councillor in Cumberland, is contesting the seat as an independent with backing from two new political movements: The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter. His campaign seeks to unseat veteran Labor MP Jason Clare by capitalising on local frustration over cost-of-living pressures and disaffection with major party politics.

In a sermon delivered mostly in English, Ouf said: “7th of October gave the brothers and sisters in Palestine a few hours of freedom from the concentration camp they were in for years.” He continued: “I felt like I was dead, and 7th of October gave me life and did free me.”

The October 7 attacks he referred to were carried out by Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation, and resulted in the murder of around 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 250 hostages. The massacre triggered Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, which has since claimed thousands of lives.

Speaking about the role of materialism in suppressing solidarity with Palestinians, Ouf told the congregation: “The 7th of October for us, those living outside Gaza, is an opportunity for us to free ourselves from the dunya”, referring to worldly distractions such as “investment properties and new cars.” He described this as a call to break “chains” of complacency and self-interest.

The most controversial portion of his remarks included: “You come, and you take my land and you occupy my land and you oppress my people, and you kill them, what do you expect me to do? I’m going to resist and make jihad … you are the anger of Allah and the punishment of Allah.” While the word “jihad” in Islamic tradition can mean spiritual struggle, Ouf did not explicitly name Israel or Gaza in this part of the address.

His campaign later clarified that the speech was metaphorical and spiritual in nature. “Mr Ouf was affirming the inalienable right of all people to resist occupation through lawful, principled means, as recognised under international law,” said his campaign manager. “His comment that October 7 gave him life was a metaphoric reflection, not a political statement.”

However, the response from the Jewish community has been scathing. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said: “The last thing we need in this election campaign are candidates making comments completely antithetical to our way of life and the values that have made this country exceptional.” Writing on X, Ryvchin stated “This is not spiritual reflection. This is a glorification of terrorism. We must say no to extremism in our politics.”

Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto said: “Ahmed Ouf’s chilling sermon should send a shiver down the spine of every Australian.”

The controversy comes as Ouf’s grassroots campaign seeks to flip Blaxland by dominating the vote in Muslim-majority suburbs like Auburn, South Granville, and Guildford — areas where he says he needs an 80–20 margin against Jason Clare to secure victory. Ouf claims that if those margins hold, he can reach a 30% primary vote and take the seat.

While he has focused on local issues such as housing affordability, underfunded schools, and inadequate hospitals, it is his messaging on Gaza that has gained national attention and raised the political stakes. The question of preferences looms large, with speculation that the Liberal Party may place Labor ahead of The Muslim Vote candidates to avoid empowering controversial independents.

Ouf’s campaign is not the only one drawing scrutiny. In the neighbouring electorate of Watson, Dr Ziad Basyouny is also challenging a senior Labor minister, Tony Burke. Basyouny attracted criticism after sharing a social media post five days after the October 7 attacks, showing images of the assault alongside the Arabic caption: “Dreams, my friend, come true for those who seek and work to see them come true!” Basyouny later stated that the post was not an endorsement of the killings, adding: “As a doctor, as a Muslim, as a human, killing civilians is never right.”

Pollster Kos Samaras of Redbridge told The Daily Telegraph that while these independents face significant hurdles, “I wouldn’t rule it out. But all the planets have to align.” He added that the outcome may depend heavily on how preferences fall, especially if the Liberal Party decides to “run dead” in those electorates.

With the campaign entering its final stretch, Jason Clare has yet to comment directly on Ouf’s remarks. But with social media lighting up, and community tensions simmering, the challenge facing mainstream parties is clear: how to respond to a growing political movement fuelled by grievance, solidarity, and a rhetoric that many now view as crossing a line.