More than 9,000 Australians have given their support to the Jewish community at a vigil in the state of New South Wales (NSW) following the weekend’s surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Local Dover Heights woman Cindy S, who attended the event with her daughter and cousin Danny S, said she wants her daughter to know her local community supports her family and the Jewish community in general.
“We support Israel. We cannot stand by and let our people be killed and treated like this. Barbaric,” said Cindy.
“We are here in solidarity as the rest of the world should be.”
Danny said the vigil was “a place of love and it makes me proud to be Jewish”.
More than 9000 Australians have given their support to the Jewish community at a vigil in the state of New South Wales. AFP via Getty Images
“There will be tears but there will be tears not just for sadness, but for our pride in who we are.”
Bondi woman Galit Gershowitz, whose 20-year-old son now serves as a sniper in an elite combat unit in the Israeli army, said she felt the community’s feelings at the vigil.
“It shows us as a family that we are not alone,” she said.
“My son did not go to war, he went to protect our country. We just want peace.
She said she was “scared and worried” for her son’s welfare but was proud of the donation.
Couple Danielle Chaanger and Gioel Gottlieb, both Jewish, said they had been “broken and devastated” by the Hamas attack.
“This morning I went to see the doctor and my doctor’s wife’s sister had been shot. She locked herself in the house, but they kidnapped her neighbor and killed her baby,” he said.
President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Jillian Segal also spoke out about the barbarity of the attack. AFP via Getty Images
He said he was on guard in showing support for Israel.
“We are not here to protest. We are here to show that we are very different. We are here to unite because we love each other,” he said.
Jewish leaders say the community is broken
Addressing the crowd, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Jillian Segal also spoke of the barbarity of the attack.
“Not since the Holocaust have so many Jewish lives been lost in one day,” he said.
The worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: The terrorist group Hamas wins Palestinian legislative elections.
2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launched a military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the city of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches its biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed, more than 3,000 injured and at least 100 taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli cities.
Hamas terrorists are seen taking women hostage and parading them through the streets in a gruesome video.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and promised Hamas would pay an “unprecedented price.”
Gaza health officials reported at least 1,050 Palestinians killed and more than 5,000 injured.
“We are truly devastated as we stand together this evening, mourning the hundreds of lives lost and praying for the safe release of the hostages.”
He also thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and local federal MP Allegra Spender for their support.
“We call on all fair-minded people and our political representatives to demand the safe return of the hostages,” he said.
“We also demand those who burned the Israeli flag at the Opera House… to be identified and prosecuted.
“And we call for decisive leadership against anti-Semitism and racial hatred from all our governments.”
Politicians condemn Hamas attack
Mr Minns confirmed the apology for recent anti-Semitic incidents over the weekend.AP
NSW Premier Chris Minns, federal Health Minister Mark Butler, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman spoke at the event.
Representing the Prime Minister, Health and Seniors Minister Mark Butler said the government condemned the actions of Hamas “outright”.
“More Jews were killed on Saturday than on any day of the Holocaust,” he said.
“I express my deepest sympathies to those affected by acts of violence.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in this country … just as we stand with the country that is Israel, we stand with the Jewish community.”
Mr Minns confirmed the apology for recent anti-Semitic incidents over the weekend.
“It is with great sadness that I acknowledge some of the hatred seen in your own city and I am deeply sorry,” he said.
Mr Dutton thanked the Jewish community for their “resolute behaviour”. via REUTERS
“I don’t want to live in a world where that happens and I won’t live in a situation where that is allowed to happen.
Mr Dutton thanked the Jewish community for their “resolute behaviour” and likened the attacks by Hamas to those of 9/11 and ISIS.
He said Australia would join the rest of the world in sending a message to Hamas that their actions “will never be tolerated.”
“As Australians, we value many qualities and when we look at the story of Israel, it is a story of many trials and tribulations,” the Liberal leader said.
“The violence that we have seen in recent days cannot be given moral equivalence to any behavior other than the terrorist events that have occurred in recent history.”
The Prime Minister in Melbourne pledged support
Mr Albanese is in Melbourne, where he has been visiting synagogues.
He told the Jewish community in St Kilda it was a “time of deep sorrow” and vowed his government “will stand with Israel. We always will.”
“We meet today at a time of deep sadness, in the shadow of a truly abhorrent terrorist act,” he said.
“We have seen unimaginable atrocities, targeting children.
“The Australian government and people condemn this Hamas attack.
Acting NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said there would be a “large police presence” on standby to ensure the safety of participants.DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“The targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is an affront to all Australians and we condemn these horrific acts.”
He also promised that the government would act on anti-Semitism sentiments and actions.
“I want to assure you, that kind of hateful prejudice has no place in Australia,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our country is better than that – and our country is a better place because of you and your community.
“My government is committed to keeping the community safe.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said there would be a “large police presence” on alert to ensure the safety of participants.
“I think one can expect that the Jewish community would hold such a vigil and our sympathies go out to the group.”
Commissioner Hudson added that additional security and police presence had been deployed to Jewish schools and synagogues, as well as Jewish retirement homes and hospitals at the request of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies.
NSW Premier apologizes to Jewish community
The commemoration came after protesters shouted anti-Semitic slurs and burned an Israeli flag at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night.
At the time the landmark was lit up in Israel’s blue and white colors as a sign of solidarity, but the city’s Jewish community was advised to stay away from the Opera House due to security concerns.
Protesters shouted anti-Semitic slurs and burned Israeli flags at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night. AFP via Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister apologized to the Jewish community for not giving them space to grieve.
“I really want to make it clear to the Jewish community that I want to apologize to them, in particular, on behalf of the government and myself as Premier of NSW,” he said.
“The intention is to light up the Opera House as a space for the Jewish community to commemorate what happened in Israel, the number of families and friends caught up in the conflict.
“We didn’t do it. I am responsible for that. I want to make sure it never happens again.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
