Vigils mark Israel attack anniversary, Gaza death toll
Dominic Giannini and William Ton |
Tens of thousands of Australians will join vigils across the nation to mark the second anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.
More than 1200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage during the designated terror group’s attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered a brutal military response from Israel that has left tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza dead.
Hamas is weighing up a US-brokered peace plan that would lead to Israeli troops withdrawing from the territory in exchange for the remaining hostages being released.
Jewish vigils this week will commemorate the loss of lives and the suffering of hostages at the hands of Hamas, while others will gather to remember the Palestinians killed.
There will be a large communal commemoration in Sydney’s east on Sunday and one in Melbourne the following Sunday.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said he was hopeful the horrors inflicted on hostages and their families would soon end.
“Hamas is a uniquely cruel and sadistic enemy whose statements can never be taken at face value,” he said.
“US political power and Israeli military power has isolated Hamas creating the conditions for its surrender and a permanent end to this war. We are thankful for both.”
The two-year war has resulted in more than 66,000 people being killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities, the majority of whom are civilians.
The strip is also suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with limited food and medical supplies leading to widespread famine after an Israeli blockade of aid.
A vigil for Gaza will be held at Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday before the organisers are back in court on Tuesday to fight to hold a protest outside the Opera House on Sunday.
NSW Police are trying to shut down the protest citing safety concerns, while Jewish and other leaders have slammed it as insensitive for being held around the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack.
It follows pro-Palestinian protesters marching on Victoria’s State Library on Sunday.
Ihab Al Azhari said it was time the world listened to Palestinian voices after two years of “killing, slaughtering, murdering, ethnic cleansing the people of Gaza”, which was met with chants of “shame” from the crowd of more than 200 people.
“We’re going to start this on a Tuesday, the second anniversary of the seventh of October,” he said.
“To celebrate these people, the one that sacrificed their lives, these women, these children, these elders.
“Don’t let the Zionists take that day from us and try to make it a day for them … their victims became victims because their leaders decided to occupy our lands.”
Israel rejects accusations of genocide and starvation in Gaza despite a UN commission finding it responsible for various atrocities.
AAP
