Vandals scrawl antisemitic graffiti on Fitzroy billboard

2 hours ago 1

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A billboard overlooking a busy intersection in Melbourne’s inner north has been defaced with pro-Hamas graffiti on the second anniversary of the October 7 atrocities.

The phrase “Glory to Hamas” was scrawled on the billboard above the busy junction of Alexandra Parade and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.

A prominent billboard in Fitzroy has been vandalised with a pro-Hamas message on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

Locals passing by said the vandalism was “disappointing”, adding that vandals had previously targeted that billboard. One person, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s just so horrible to see.”

Yarra City Council workers also visited the scene on Tuesday morning and photographed the graffiti.

Police are investigating the incident, saying in a statement: “There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour.“

The graffiti is believed to have appeared overnight, coinciding with the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, in which Hamas militants murdered 1200 people and took 250 hostages.

In response, Israel launched a violent two-year campaign that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians so far. The UN Commission has labelled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal.

It also comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for “decent human behaviour” to mark the anniversary of the attacks. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan also condemned “deeply disrespectful” plans by pro-Palestinian groups to protest on the anniversary of the Hamas massacre that incited the war in Gaza.

“[Tuesday] is not a day for demonstrations,” Albanese said, as the premiers of Victoria and NSW condemned the protests organised in both states to mark the second anniversary of the atrocities.

More to come

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