Vigil at Federation Square marks 30 days since Hamas massacre
Hundreds of people attended a vigil on Monday night at Melbourne’s Federation Square to mark ’30 days’ since Hamas infiltrated Israel’s southern border, massacring 1400 people, wounding over 5000 and kidnapping 241.
The Israeli flag was raised, a video of the hostages was played on a loop, and their pictures were laid out on the ground between electric tea lights for people to view. Rabbi Daniel Rabin from Caulfield Synagogue said a prayer and State Liberal MP for Caulfield, David Southwick, addressed the audience. Toward the end of the gathering, attendees observed a minute of silence, perhaps the first opportunity for many to stop and ponder the dizzying speed with which things have unravelled in the region, and around the world over the past month. The event closed with the singing of the Australian and Israeli anthems.
The vigil was organised by the grassroots organisation United with Israel Australia NZ, which, in addition to providing vital humanitarian aid, is supporting the Hostages and Missing Families Forum with its global #bringthemhomenow campaign. Spokesperson for United with Israel, Nirit Eylon, said “In Judaism ’30 days’ marks the end of the first month of mourning following a funeral, after which time mourners customarily resume some of their regular activities. But we are both mourning those brutally murdered and, at the same time, counting the number of days since the hostages have been away from their loved ones. We pray for a swift resolution to the current crisis, acknowledging the devastation on all sides”.
Many of the hostages are believed to be injured and in need of medical treatment, and many rely on medications especially the elderly. To date, Hamas has refused to transfer medications to the hostages through the International Red Cross or any other humanitarian organisation and has not allowed international observers to meet with them.
Photos: Idan Goldberger
