How Israeli, Palestinian Supporters Marked Oct. 7 Across Australia

An event commemorating the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel is held in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 6, 2024. (Courtesy of Sharon Kuper).

Oct. 7 has been described as a sombre day for Israeli and Palestinian supporters amid commemorations across Australia.

The date marked the first anniversary since Israel was invaded by Palestinian terror group Hamas, who murdered around 1,200 Israelis and foreign workers, and kidnapped more than 250 people.

Some have been freed via hostage deals and rescue operations, while others have been killed. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza.

Shortly after the attack, Israel declared war on Hamas and fighting has continued since, spreading throughout the Middle East.

Hamas-backed Gaza health officials estimate 40,000 deaths since the Israeli assault began a year ago.

Uniting in Peace

In Melbourne, Israeli and Iranian flags were flown at a special peaceful event held on the eve of the Oct. 7 anniversary, with participants writing names of hostages on a large metal dog tag.

Many Iranians have expressed support for Israel due to disagreements with the ruling regime.

Organiser Sharon Kuper told The Epoch Times the event was about reclaiming the use of the city that had become increasingly targeted by pro-Palestine protests.

Kuper said Jewish people were disappointed in the lack of leadership from politicians such as Premier Jacinta Allan.

“A complete lack of sanctions has resulted in terror-supporting-thugs being emboldened to attack and harass Jews and even other uninvolved members of the public, from footy fans to buskers,” she said.

“After 12 months of mob rule, and no law enforcement, 1,100 Jews and allies returned to our city, to honour the hostages and unite in peace.”

At Melbourne’s Oct. 7 event, Zionism Victoria President Yossi Goldfarb told attendees he felt there had been a lack of adequate leadership from senior Labor politicians.

The Epoch Times contacted Premier Allan’s office for comment.

Jewish Group Calls it a ‘Sombre Day’

“October 7 was a sombre day for the Jewish community,” Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory told The Epoch Times.

“Events were held across Australia to commemorate the almost 1,200 lives lost on that day.”

Members of the Australian Jewish community react as they listen to speeches during a memorial service in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 7, 2024. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

Gregory said many Australian Jews felt let down by the Labor government, who they said had not acted to maintain social cohesion.

“Australian Jews reflected on a very difficult year in which many feel the government has abandoned the community in the face of rising anti-semitism,” he said.

“The community’s thoughts are with the hostages trapped in Gaza and with the IDF.”

Former PM Abbott Speaks

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended a Melbourne event hosted by Never Again is Now on Oct. 7, saying he stood by Israel.

“I’m very happy to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people of Australia and around the world and with the state of Israel on this terrible anniversary,” he said.

“It’s a day of mourning, but in a sense, it’s also a brave day because the Israeli people are fighting back magnificently and if there’s one bright spot in a dark world at the moment, it is the way government and the people of Israel are refusing to compromise with evil.”

Amnesty’s Call for End to Military Reprisal

Amnesty International condemned both the Oct. 7 terror attacks, and Israel’s military response.

The group has called for the immediate release of the hostages in Gaza, while also condemning Israel’s attacks on Gaza in the wake of Oct. 7, citing mass civilian casualties.

Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has cited around 40,000 deaths since the war started a year ago.

Amnesty has called on both sides to take all possible measures to spare civilians, for Hamas to release all Israeli hostages, and for Israel to preserve infrastructure in Gaza.

Pro-Palestine Rallies Also Widespread

Hundreds of pro-Palestinians attended a mosque and candlelight vigils in Australia’s two biggest cities on Oct. 7. About 600 people attended a rally at Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque.

People attend a vigil outside Sydney’s Town Hall in New South Wales, Australia on Oct. 7, 2024. Roni Bintang/Getty Images

Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir described the vigil as “exactly what’s happening in the eastern suburbs, respecting the lives that have been lost.”

“This is not a celebration of any kind, and for people and the politicians to make it out as if we’re celebrating some atrocity is so disrespectful,” Kheir told AAP.

“There’s catastrophic levels of death and destruction, we’re here ... to mark the fact that it was on this day last year that that sequence of events started.”

A pro-Palestinian movement also gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra on Oct. 8 to demand Australia place sanctions on Israel due to its war against terror cells Hamas and Hezbollah.

“I want to thank all of you for coming out now more than a year on, after we’ve seen countless images of violence and destruction and death to the people in the region of Israel and Gaza, Lebanon,” Greens Senator David Shoebridge told the crowd.

“What I think is driving millions and millions of Australians to demand our government cease its complicity in the violence in the Middle East is this connection, this people to people connection we see around the world.”

Pro-Palestine protesters march past Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 7, 2024. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images