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'Blood on their hands': Paint thrown at Luxon and Seymour’s offices overnight

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Nov 2023, 9:00AM
Christopher Luxon's Botany electorate office was splashed with red paint overnight by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.
Christopher Luxon's Botany electorate office was splashed with red paint overnight by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.

'Blood on their hands': Paint thrown at Luxon and Seymour’s offices overnight

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Nov 2023, 9:00AM

A pro-Palestine group has splashed the offices of seven politicians with red paint overnight, in protest against their stance on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. 

Tāmaki for Palestine has claimed responsibility for the vandalism, saying the National and Act politicians are “complicit in the deaths of thousands in Gaza” and the paint represents blood on their hands. 

The group emailed pictures of paint splattered on the offices of seven politicians in Auckland, including Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon’s Botany electorate office and the Epsom office of Act Party leader David Seymour. 

The red paint was also splashed on David Seymour's Epsom office. The Act party leader is in Wellington for coalition talks. Photo / SuppliedThe red paint was also splashed on David Seymour's Epsom office. The Act party leader is in Wellington for coalition talks. Photo / Supplied 

Both Luxon and Seymour have returned to Wellington overnight for the final stages of coalition talks. 

Five other National MPs’ offices were also targeted - Northcote’s Dan Bidois, Papakura’s Judith Collins, North Shore’s Simon Watts and the Epsom office shared by Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee. 

Fake blood splashed on the Epsom office of National MPs Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee overnight. Photo / SuppliedFake blood splashed on the Epsom office of National MPs Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee overnight. Photo / Supplied 

The protest group said in a press release that all seven MPs had “refused to call for a ceasefire or condemn Israel’s atrocities in the war on Gaza”.  

“This incoming government will be a coalition of complicity,” the statement said.  

Last week Tāmaki for Palestine splashed fake blood on the US Consulate in Auckland and the nearby office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Premier House in Wellington. 

A person was arrested over that incident. 

Fake blood splattered across the windows and footpath outside the Northcote electorate office of National MP Dan Bidois. Photo / SuppliedFake blood splattered across the windows and footpath outside the Northcote electorate office of National MP Dan Bidois. Photo / Supplied 

Since then Israel has approved a brief ceasefire with Hamas that includes the release of around 50 hostages held in Gaza.  

Hamas holds roughly 240 people hostage in the Gaza Strip following its bloody rampage in Israel on October 7.  

In the six weeks since then, relentless airstrikes and a ground invasion by Israel have killed more than 11,000 Palestinians including thousands of children.  

Last week Labour leader Chris Hipkins called for a ceasefire in the conflict, saying it was “untenable” for himself and the Labour Party “to stand by and watch the horrific scenes we are witnessing without calling for a ceasefire”.  

Luxon called that statement “unhelpful”, adding that everyone wanted to see hostilities cease in the Middle East. 

“All New Zealanders are horrified by the images that we’re seeing on our TVs, but the reality is you need the conditions for a ceasefire to be there and that requires that you need both parties wanting to progress a ceasefire.” 

The Papakura electorate office of National MP Judith Collins was also targeted overnight. Photo / SuppliedThe Papakura electorate office of National MP Judith Collins was also targeted overnight. Photo / Supplied 

There are thought to be slight divisions within the National Party over its stance. 

National’s incoming Maungakiekie MP Greg Fleming recently emailed a constituent saying he was “urging those who speak for our government to call for an immediate ceasefire”. 

A spokesperson for National clarified that Fleming was “not National’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs” and that National “supports calls for next steps towards a ceasefire”, however; the party “regrets that the conditions do not presently exist for this”. 

Another post to X suggested Simon Watts was also supportive of a ceasefire, with the poster - a constituent - reporting Watts had said the Government would soon call for a ceasefire. 

However, when contacted by the Herald, Watts said this was not his position and his comments reflected National’s position. 

Simon Watts' North Shore office was also vandalised. Watts has denied reports that his position on calling for a ceasefire differs from that of the National Party. Photo / SuppliedSimon Watts' North Shore office was also vandalised. Watts has denied reports that his position on calling for a ceasefire differs from that of the National Party. Photo / Supplied 

Meanwhile, the Israeli Government has announced a temporary ceasefire to allow for some hostages to be freed. 

It said on Wednesday Hamas would have a four-day period to free 50 of the hostages, in exchange for some 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. 

For every 10 extra hostages released the lull would extend by another day. A date was not given for when the truce would begin.  

Ahead of Wednesday morning’s Cabinet vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would resume its offensive against Hamas after the ceasefire ends. 

More to come. 

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