Anthony Albanese’s electorate office ‘targeted’ by Hamas symbol with a ‘history of violence’

Anthony Albanese’s electorate office has been tagged with terror group Hamas’s symbol indicating its Israeli military targets, as police across Australia said officers would clamp down on any criminal protest activity.

Pro-Palestine protest at Anthony Albanese’s electoral office. Picture: John Feder

Anthony Albanese’s electorate office has been tagged with terror group Hamas’s symbol indicating its Israeli military targets as police across Australia said officers would clamp down on protest ­activity that spilt into criminality.

The Australian on Wednesday revealed how the Prime Minister had been locked out of his Sydney Grayndler electorate office since January because of a pro-­Palestinian encampment on its doorstep amid safety concerns, with the office since plastered with red inverted triangles, used by Hamas and associated with a “history of violence”.

The symbol is used in videos by Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, to illustrate the Israeli targets it intends to fire at.

It has since been embraced by pro-Palestine activists, who use it for both graffiti and at protests.

The symbol predates Hamas but has become intrinsically linked and used by the terror group, a security expert explained.

“It (the symbol) has form: there’s a long history associated with it,” Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s John Coyne said.

“It dates back to old revolutions and can signify the blood lost from those who rebelled against the Ottoman Empire.”

Mr Coyne, ASPI’s head of strategic policing and law enforcement program, said Hamas had used it for years but it had transcended borders and taken on wider popularity with the onset of pro-Palestine protests after Oct­ober 7. “There’s a certain irony in its usage at protests and people using it,” he said.

The office has been plastered with the Hamas symbol. Picture: Damian Shaw

“It is not a symbol of peace. It’s very controversial for Israelis and Jewish people, whose usage it upsets deeply.”

Mr Coyne said he doubted many using it at Australia-based protests, particularly at universities, would realise its meaning. “Unlike wearing a keffiyeh and saying you’re supporting peace, it’s not the case with this,” he said. “That’s how the symbol has been adopted, but many ­people I don’t think understand its significance or association with violence.”

Lebanese Muslim community leader Jamal Rifi agreed, saying Hamas’s military wing routinely used the symbol in its videos to showcase which Israeli targets it was about to destroy.

“That was where it originated, but it’s become a ‘trendy’ symbol for a lot of people,” he said.

Pro-Palestinian videos posted to X that show Hamas fighters targeting IDF forces. The symbol of an inverted red triangle has become synonymous with these types of videos that show the targets briefly before they are fired upon.

While not condoning its usage or those who graffitied the Prime Minister’s office, Dr Rifi, a leading voice on social cohesion, said Mr Albanese had become a non­violent target for protesters.

It comes as concerns were raised in federal parliament about the escalating disruption of, and graffiti on, electorate offices.

State and territory police said each force would respect peaceful protests but would investigate those that spilt into criminality.

“If police detect or receive reports of offences being committed under any act, they are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated,” a Victoria Police spokes­woman said.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said any activity “must be conducted lawfully, respectfully and peacefully”, while NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the state force “closely monitored protest activity”.