A former Love Island star accused of verbally attacking Jewish tourists has hit back at claims he instigated the fight.
Sophie, an American tourist, was visiting Perth’s Kings Park on Wednesday when she and her partner crossed paths with Sadee sub Laban and another woman.
Sophie was heard on video singing ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, a song of Jewish solidarity, and claimed that Mr Sub Laban and the unnamed woman had ‘attacked’ her.
“They saw my Magen David (Star of David),” Sophie said.
Sub Laban, a Sydney law student who appeared on Love Island in 2021, responded by accusing tourists of supporting genocide, referencing Israel’s current conflict with Palestine and calling them “gronks”.
“You guys are gronks, that’s what you are, you’re a genocide… a child killer,” he said.
In response to widespread condemnation of his rant, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Sub Laban shared two videos recounting his side of the confrontation.
The woman accompanying Mr. Sub Laban had been filming his walk in the park and captured the moment the conflict began.
Sadee sub Laban (pictured from Love Island 2021) was filmed arguing with Jewish tourists in Perth.
Sophie (pictured) was heard singing ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, a song of Jewish solidarity, and claimed that Mr sub Laban and the unnamed woman had ‘attacked’ her.
He claimed that the man accompanying Sophie had shouted “all glory to Israel” after seeing her “cultural clothing.”
While the audio in the footage is unclear, the man with Sophie can be heard saying “Israel” before Sub Laban responded “Free Palestine.”
“I am Palestinian, born and raised,” said sub Laban in his video.
‘I come from Jerusalem, I have experienced what is happening there.
“For me it is something that is traumatic for me to hear.”
Sub Laban also addressed a comment Sophie made during her video about him watching her Magen David.
It was previously reported that Sophie was wearing a Star of David necklace, but the necklace seen in the video does not appear to have the religious symbol.
However, it is unclear whether Sophie wore the symbol elsewhere.
Sub Laban (left) claimed that a man with Sophie had shouted “all glory to Israel”, sparking the fight.
Sophie said before West believed Mr Sub Laban and the woman were “deliberately threatening and intimidating”.
‘(Sub Laban) told me to shut up. “He tried to put pressure on my husband,” she said.
“I was petrified that he was going to attack my husband and my husband was petrified that he was going to attack me.”
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook condemned the exchange on Friday.
“I appeal to everyone to continue to watch and make sure WA is a peaceful place,” he said.
‘No religious or cultural intolerance, bullying or discrimination is acceptable in my community and I believe that is shared by all Western Australians.
“The police can’t be everywhere, we can’t stop outbreaks of anti-social behaviour, but I think we all, as a community, condemn that kind of behaviour.”
Cook acknowledged that both sides had harshly insulted each other, but asked that people resolve conflicts peacefully.
‘I don’t know if the police are investigating. “It was a good fight and I appeal to all parties in this debate, please let’s keep Western Australia at peace,” he said.
Albanese echoed his comments, calling the confrontation “abhorrent.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Mr sub Laban and Sophie for further comment.