Grieving community hopes Gaza ceasefire holds

The Jewish community in Australia is hoping that a ceasefire in Gaza will turn into a lasting peace, as Israel and Hamas prepare to swap prisoners.

Jewish Australians are hopeful that Israel’s two-year war on the militant group Hamas in Gaza is coming an end as a ceasefire holds for another day, ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages.

The group, which Australia has designated a terrorist organisation, killed more than 1200 people and took about 250 hostage in the October 7 assault.

One of those killed was Australian citizen Galit Carbone, whose brother Danny Majzner paid tribute to his sibling on Sunday in a vigil organised by Jewish groups in Sydney attended by thousands of people.

As the rain fell and a rainbow appeared across the sky, Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said he had emphasised to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that Hamas must have no role in Gaza’s future governance.

“We will not forget October 7, nor its victims, including members of my own family,” he told the crowd

“I can still see the images of terrorists driving into Israeli towns in white pickup trucks. I can still feel the vibration of rockets overhead and hear the fearful voices of those in the safe room, everyone in Israel was affected that day. Over the past two years, we have spoken in numbers: more than 1200 people murdered, over 250 taken hostage, more than 1000 children left orphaned.

We will not forget October 7 nor its victims, including members of my own family, Maul shalom, who was 46 Ido haush, who was 21 will remember also Shani Look, just 22 when she was murdered at the Nova festival and her body paraded through Gaza Sagi Golan, 30 years old, murdered just 13 days before his wedding and the entire simanto family, Jonathan and tamal, their five years old twin daughter, Shah and Arbel and their little boy, Omer, only two, I could go on naming Each and every victim. We remember them. Remember them all.

We collectively hold our breath, cautiously optimistic that tomorrow our prayers will be answered and our brothers and sisters will be returned home to their families.”

Aboriginal Olympian Nova Peris said: “Just as my people hold an unbroken connection to our country, so too do the Jewish people maintain their unbroken connection to the land of Israel. Two peoples, two peoples, worlds apart, bound by ancient stories of survival, sovereignty, faith and endurance.

And just as our Aboriginal languages connect us to country ancestors and spirit, so too does the Hebrew connect you to Hashem and the land of Israel. My people know dispossession. We know the pain of being denied dignity. You, too, know dispossession. You, too, know survival, and that is why our struggles echo each other and why our solidarity matters.”

Co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin thanked the community for its support. He spoke of “the unsung heroes who fought the legal battle that helped ensure that the attack on our community that took place on the steps of the Sydney Opera House two years ago would not be repeated today”.

As part of the US President Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire deal, Hamas is due to release on Monday 48 hostages held in Gaza, including 20 believed to be alive.

Israel, in exchange, will release around 2,000 Palestinians, including senior militants and those held without charge under what is known as administrative detention.

Former athlete and politician Nova Peris was received warmly with a standing ovation as she drew links between her Aboriginal heritage and Jewish people with Israel.

“I’m sorry for the lives lost and I’m sorry for the families that continue to mourn loved ones and I pray with you all for the safe return of those still held hostage enduring two years of hell,” she said.

Trade Minister Don Farrell said it was too early to discuss Australian peacekeepers possibly being deployed to the pummelled enclave.

“The important thing here is that a peace agreement has been achieved and that it holds into the future and there can be a resolution to the ongoing disputes in the Middle East,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

By: Farid Farid/AAP