Pro-Palestinian Slogans Found Painted on Labor MP’s Office
Melbourne Labor MP Peter Khalil, the son of Egyptian migrants, has had his office vandalized by pro-Palestinian protesters. The vandals sprayed red paint and forced substances into the building, marking an escalation compared to previous attacks on fellow Labor MP Josh Burns’ office in St Kilda.
The outside of Khalil’s office was sprayed with red paint and marked with slogans like “land back” and “glory to the martyrs.” Additionally, “fire extinguishers and other kinds of propellants” were used to push substances into the office, creating a horrific smell making it hard to breathe nearby. An inverted triangle—an identifying marker used by Al-Qassam militant brigades—has been painted on a door, a symbol shared online by Hamas sympathizers and displayed in protests in Melbourne since the attack on Oct. 7 last year.
Upon discovering the damage at 8:45 a.m., staff called a Hazmat team and Fire Rescue Victoria, closing the office to the public as police investigate. Khalil emphasized the importance of safety at work, highlighting previous incidents where fake “dead bodies” and pro-Palestinian messages were left outside Labor MPs’ offices.
Appointed as special envoy for social cohesion in July, Khalil sees these actions as major challenges to harmony among communities. In July, two teenagers were charged with burglary and criminal damage after the attack on Burns’ office, where flammable chemicals were found and small fires were lit.