Al-Esawie expressed that she believes the attack was motivated by her Muslim identity, leaving her feeling unsafe in her own country.

Despite widespread condemnation from political figures, no charges have yet been laid in connection with the assaults, raising concerns about the response from authorities.

The Islamophobia Register reported a staggering 510% increase in reported Islamophobic incidents since the onset of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.

Victoria Police emphasized that discriminatory and hate-based behavior will not be tolerated in society and have begun providing support to the victims.

On February 15, 2025, Ealaf Al-Esawie, a Muslim woman, was attacked in a suspected hate crime at the Pacific Epping shopping centre in Melbourne.

Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at Northern Hospital, with one requiring a neck brace due to her injuries.

Al-Esawie described her injuries, which included scratches and bruises, and reported experiencing emotional trauma that necessitated further psychological support.

Victoria Police are treating this incident and another attack on February 13 as prejudice-motivated, particularly due to the victims' head coverings.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton denounced the violence as disgraceful, particularly highlighting the vulnerability of one of the victims who is pregnant.

Aftab Malik, Australia's special envoy to combat Islamophobia, raised concerns about the normalization of violence against Muslim women in Australia.

The Australian National Imams Council condemned the assaults as a horrifying escalation of Islamophobic violence against innocent individuals.

Community leaders have highlighted the increasing trend of Islamophobic attacks and criticized the lack of media attention on these incidents.