Jewish Australians have commemorated the second anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on 7 October 2023, honouring the 1,200 people killed and the hostages still held in Gaza. Vigils were held across Sydney, including a dawn service at Dover Heights and a beach gathering, with a larger community event planned for Sunday evening. The anniversary falls on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, condemned what he called a 'national blindness' that has allowed hatred to rise to 'unprecedented' levels in Australia. He noted that Jewish commemorations coincided with a planned pro-Palestinian rally at the Sydney Opera House, which he said would 'incite yet more hatred' and 'shred what little harmony remains'. Ryvchin supported the right to peaceful protest but said it had limits.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the day was 'not a day for demonstrations' but for remembrance. He confirmed that pro-Hamas graffiti in Melbourne, where a billboard was defaced, was being investigated as a possible terror offence. The graffiti was widely condemned, including by the New Israel Fund, which called it a 'deliberate provocation' timed to coincide with Jewish grief.
In Sydney, a 23-year-old man was arrested after allegedly making a threatening gesture with what appeared to be a firearm outside Cremorne Synagogue. He was released pending inquiries. The driver of the truck, a 21-year-old man, was also arrested and released. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, vowing to 'always stand against antisemitism'. He also voiced support for US-led peace negotiations.
The Australian National Imams Council used the anniversary to call for sanctions on Israel and an end to the 'genocide' in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian supporters planned a vigil in Melbourne and a protest in western Sydney. Meanwhile, about 1,000 people attended a Palestine Action Group vigil on Monday. Muslim and Palestinian Australians marked the day as the start of a bombardment that has killed around 67,000 Palestinians.
