Top university sign vandalised with red paint, amid growing concerns over disruptions and ongoing encampments.

Mystery vandals have left a confronting message at the entrance to the University of Queensland’s main campus, as tensions remain over ongoing pro-Palestinian encampments.

Mystery vandals have left a blunt message at one of Queensland’s top universities amid concerns from students over disruptions to exams and the ongoing pro-Palestinian encampments.

A vandal sprayed “Tuition equals blood money” in red paint across a University of Queensland sign on Tuesday, which has since been removed.

Pro-Palestine protesters continue to defy orders to pack up encampments at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus despite threats of police involvement and disciplinary action against students.

University students have since started their own petition in response to the ongoing disruptions to “enhance student safety on campus” and was launched on May 10 and has since gained 280 signatures.

Vandalism at the University of Queensland on Tuesday, amid ongoing pro-Palestinian encampments. Photo: supplied

The petition calls for exams to be held online, and enable students to choose their preferred mode of study either online or on-campus.

A Jewish third year student, who wanted to remain anonymous said “I have been thinking about deferring one of my exams due to not feeling like I can study at university due to encampments”.

“I have personally heard protests chanting intifada, and it makes me feel uncomfortable and unsafe as a Jewish/Israeli student.”

Associate professor Yoni Nazarathy has been vocal on the ongoing encampments and said “the university has lost its credibility”.

Yoni Nazarathy, said the “university has lost its credibility” amid ongoing pro-Palestinian encampments. Photo: Richard Walker

“While UQ had firstly directly told protesters not to use certain hate speech that the Jewish community find hurtful, after protesters ignored this request and used such hate speech repeatedly, the university has not taken any action whatsoever,” Mr Nazarathy said.

“Further, the university allows actors on campus whom are not students, who are calling for an increase in rule breaking and hate speech.”

Student for Palestine organiser Ella Gutteridge said “most of their members” are students at the encampment.

University of Queensland Pro Palestine protest speeches and march Ella Gutteridge St Lucia on Tuesday. Photo: David Clark

“Most of us overwhelmingly … Everyone here overnight is a student, it’s just community members that come in for the protests,” Ms Gutteridge said.

Ms Gutteridge confirmed the vandalism was not connected to the student for Palestine group.

A University of Queensland spokeswoman said the university will continue to work with protesters for a “peaceful” resolution that would see the encampments removed.

“The University remains committed to upholding freedom of speech on our campus. Our approach is to consider how the phrases are used in context and take appropriate action if they go beyond free speech,” the spokeswoman said.

“We encourage staff and students protesting to understand the extent to which the expressions they use can impact on those who understand the terms differently.”