In Sydney’s west, division over Gaza action drives election debate (2025)

The tactics of political pressure groups hoping to punish Labor over Israel’s war in Gaza have divided Muslim communities in Sydney’s west, a prominent doctor warning their “sinister plot” will pave the way for a Liberal government unsympathetic to Palestine.

While one pro-Palestinian group, vowing to heckle and disrupt politicians, gloated they had driven “cockroach” local MPs from the city’s mosques, a new anti-Islamic threat landed on the door of a house of worship on Monday.

On the first day of Eid, Muslim Sydneysiders gathered at mosques to mark the end of Ramadan. There was a notable lack of politicians in attendance amid a days-long debate over whether political figures from either major party should be welcomed in Muslim spaces.

On Sunday, activist group Stand4Palestine called for followers to monitor mosques and places of worship for local MPs and to disrupt public appearances. When Labor’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare did not attend the mosques on Monday, as expected to mark the celebration, the group boasted online.

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“Just like cockroaches – when you shine the light on them, they run away!” they wrote in an Instagram post.

Their actions, which have divided Muslim leaders, are targeted at politicians holding electorates in Sydney’s south and south-west. Burke holds the seat of Watson, where census figures show one in four people are adherents to Islam.

In the neighbouring seat of Blaxland, held by Clare and taking in Auburn and Granville, nearly 32 per cent of the electorate are Muslims.

There is also a significant share of Muslim voters in the electorates of McMahon (14 per cent), Parramatta (10 per cent) and Chifley (10 per cent).

Voters ‘extremely angry’ over Gaza

Jamal Rifi, AM, a GP and community leader, told the Herald that elder members of Sydney’s Muslim community have remained silent as “militant” groups such as Stand4Palestine preached divisive messages and used “bullying” tactics.

“They are promoting mob mentality and want to dictate to the community which way to vote,” he said. “Of all the people to attack, they choose [Burke], who has agitated the most for the Palestinian cause, all to prove a point in the least strategic, most short-sighted way.

“It is an unholy alliance between the Muslim vote and hardline fringe elements in our community to create fear, spread misinformation and divide the community,” said the Lebanese-Australian, who was sentenced by his home nation in absentia to a decade in prison for his work treating Palestinian children in Israeli hospitals.

“It’s poisoning the well you drink from ... fixing the leak by sinking the ship.”

Others say politicians have failed to appreciate the impact the war in Gaza has had on Australian Muslims. Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association – one of the nation’s most significant Islamic not-for-profits – said his community was “extremely angry because of the helplessness that we feel”.

In a major departure from tradition, Lakemba Mosque stopped inviting politicians to their major gatherings in 2024 due to the government’s response to the war in Gaza.

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“It would be unconscionable of us to actually have politicians at such an important event,” Kheir said of Monday’s Eid celebration.

“These are solemn events, and I don’t believe it serves anyone’s purpose, especially the Muslim community, to make it an election grab. Our solemn days are not there for political gain or political advantage.”

The idea of social cohesion, frequently referenced by politicians, had been so “bastardised” to be meaningless, he said, and had resulted in religious and ethnic communities becoming more insular.

“We all say it but none of us want to seem to practice it.”

Police called to Sydney mosque

The debate comes the same day as police were called to another Sydney mosque. A threatening note was delivered via post to Al Zahra mosque in Arncliffe, south of the CBD, that called Muslims “Diabolical/Satanic”.

“There is absolutely NO HOPE! for any MUSLIM: Male or Female to go to HEAVEN, when they DIE: NONE,” the note read.

Police are conducting a forensic analysis of the handwritten note to find the author.

On Monday morning, Rifi posed for pictures with NSW Labor minister and member for Bankstown Jihad Dib at Lakemba Mosque, and he saw Burke on Sunday evening. He said he and others were considering escorting MPs through community events so they could properly engage with the public rather than be cut off.

“The smear campaign is strategically coordinated to achieve one thing – to teach Labor a lesson,” Rifi said. “Well, if they don’t get Labor, they will end up with Dutton, and while they rejoice, we will pile our disappointment on disappointment.”

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