Police investigating after Labor MP’s office vandalised with Hamas imagery

Police are investigating after a terrorist symbol was spray painted onto an MP’s office in Melbourne.

Police are investigating after a terrorist symbol was among graffiti spray painted onto an MP’s electorate office in Melbourne early on Monday.

An inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, was painted on the office of Labor backbencher Peter Khalil, along with the slogan “glory to the martyrs”.

Victoria Police said they were told the office was also doused with an “unknown liquid”.

“Police are investigating criminal damage at an office in Brunswick on Monday, 14 October,” a spokeswoman told NewsWire.

“It is understood paint was sprayed on the building on Sydney Road and a door was damaged between 2am and 9am.

“Officers were told offenders poured an unknown liquid through the door.

“No one was inside at the time of the incident.”

Labor MP Peter Khalil was recently appointed special envoy for social cohesion. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Khalil, the Albanese government’s special envoy for social cohesion, has been targeted several times since the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Hamas, which runs Gaza, uses the inverted triangle to identify Israeli troops in often-graphic videos from the war.

NewsWire has contacted Mr Khalil for comment.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson came to Mr Khalil’s defence in a show of unity.

“The continued targeting of (Peter Khalil’s) office and staff like this is totally unacceptable,” Senator Paterson posted on X.

“The perpetrators of this intimidating and dangerous behaviour must feel the full force of the law.”

The continued targeting of @PeterKhalilMP’s office and staff like this is totally unacceptable.

The perpetrators of this intimidating and dangerous behaviour must feel the full force of the law:https://t.co/K6ix32eo6f

— James Paterson (@SenPaterson) October 14, 2024

The war in Gaza has sparked friction at home, with alarming reports of spikes in antisemitism at universities and terrorist symbols appearing at pro-Palestine rallies.

Some 1200 were killed and more than 5000 injured in Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel last year.

Hundreds more, including children, were taken hostage as militants retreated into Gaza.

The Israeli response has killed upward of 40,000 and displaced most of the Palestinian territory’s population, according to Gazan health officials and independent monitors.

Originally published as Police investigating after Labor MP’s office vandalised with Hamas imagery