Transport for NSW threatens to deregister Sydney driver's car over 'FU2IDF' numberplate

Owner says the registered plates are a "silent protest" for Gaza

Transport for NSW warned last month it would deregister a Sydney man's car unless he turns in his 'FU2IDF' numberplates.

Mahmoud, of Greenacre, registered the plates in 2024 as "my silent protest".

"My wife is Palestinian. Her family has had people killed since the start of the occupation in 1948. They've been displaced, they can't go home. So this is raw for us," he tells Deepcut.

On June 30, he received a letter from Transport for NSW telling him to return his plates within 18 days or risk losing his registration.

"Transport for NSW has policies that prevent particular number plate content being displayed. This is related, but not limited to, content that has a religious theme, is discriminatory, is political, promotes violence, has a sexual reference, promotes drug taking/drinking or may be deemed to give rise to controversy or public disagreement," the letter states.

"Transport for NSW has the authority to issue number-plates, decline the issue or renewal of number-plates and the authority to withdraw any number-plates at any time.

"Transport for NSW has determined that these number-plates may give rise to controversy or public disagreement and must be returned."

Mahmoud says the letter "would've come about by someone complaining to Transport for NSW".

"I thought this was a free country where people can express themselves and their opinions," he says. "Some people find my number plate offensive, but the murder of tens of thousands of women and children isn't offensive to them."

Speaking off-camera in a video circulating in private WhatsApp groups, Mahmoud recounts how the plates led to a "surprisingly" positive interaction with a NSW police officer.

"I got pulled over one day and the officer said he was admiring the car. At the same time, he was adamant that he wanted me to disclose what [the plates] meant. Once I disclosed what it meant, he actually shook my hand," Mahmoud says in the video.

"In all my years living, I never thought I'd see the day."

While Mahmoud intends to turn the plates in, he says he has no intention to stop speaking out about the genocide in Gaza.

"I've got stickers on my other car, a Landcruiser, with information about Palestine – like how Israel killed more than 2,300 Palestinian children between the year 2000 and October 2023," he says.

"People see my car and give me the thumbs-up all the time. I want to spread that awareness so people understand the reality of what's been going on in Palestine for decades. My hope is that people keep taking these little actions – putting a sticker on a car, putting a flag in a window, things like that."