As both Jewish and pro-Palestinian groups held events to mark the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, Australian leaders urged calm and reflection, describing the day as one of mourning, not protest.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the 2023 assault on Israel “a day of pain and terror” that must never be forgotten.
“The attack on innocent people at a music festival that promoted ‘friends, love and infinite freedom’ underlined a core truth—that Hamas stands in opposition to all humanity and all that we value as human beings,” he said.
“Two years on, we remember all those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust.”
Albanese said Australia joined global partners in calling for the “immediate and dignified return” of hostages still held in Gaza.
“The world must never forget the atrocities inflicted by Hamas,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles echoed the sentiment, saying the anniversary was “not a day for demonstrations.”
“Today is a very difficult and solemn day for the Jewish community in Australia,” Marles told ABC TV.
“It is a day for remembrance and reflection.”
Calls for Restraint
The government’s message followed concerns of planned rallies and vigils by pro-Palestinian groups across Sydney and Melbourne.
Marles said while Australians have the right to peaceful protest, marking the anniversary of the attacks with demonstrations risked inflaming tensions.
“This is a time to show empathy and respect,” he said. “We should all recognise the grief of those who lost loved ones and focus on the need for peace.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also urged restraint, calling the Oct. 7 massacre “one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in modern history.”
“Two years ago, the world was changed forever,” she said. “We remember the victims, including Australian Galit Carbone, and those who continue to mourn. This is a moment for unity, not division.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Colin Rubinstein said the anniversary carried immense weight for Jewish Australians.
“This day is a painful reminder for the Jewish community here and around the world,” he said. “The trauma of October 7 remains fresh, even as the conflict continues.”
Renewed Call for Peace
While Jewish communities held memorials nationwide, some pro-Palestinian groups also marked the date, viewing it as the beginning of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
A “united community protest for Gaza” was planned in Sydney, while vigils were held in Melbourne calling for an end to hostilities.
At a Sydney gathering on Oct. 6, academic Peter Slezak—son of Holocaust survivors—said his solidarity with Palestinians stemmed from “moral outrage” over the humanitarian toll in Gaza.
“What is called anti-Semitism is really justified moral outrage about what Israel is doing and in the name of Jews,” he said.
According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities, over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel launched its reprisal two years ago.
