Australia marks anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel

Anthony Albanese has made a vow to Jewish Australians to never let history repeat itself as the country marks the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel.

Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza, killed 1200 in its unprecedented assault one year ago.

Militants took hundreds more hostage as they retreated into the Palestinian territory.

In a video statement, the Prime Minister reflected on the date, calling it “a day that carries terrible pain”.

“On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, we pause to reflect on the horrific terrorist atrocity that reverberated around the globe,” Mr Albanese said.

“We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ actions on that day.

“Innocent lives taken at a music festival, women, men and children killed in their homes, brutality that was inflicted with cold calculation.”

He said anti-Semitism had haunted the Jewish community over the past year.

“Since the atrocities of October 7, Jewish Australians have felt the cold shadows of anti-Semitism reaching into the present day and as a nation, we say, never again,” Mr Albanese said.

“We unequivocally condemn all prejudice and hatred. There is no place in Australia for discrimination against people of any faith.”

Vigils have been taking place across Australia as people mourn those killed in the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.

Peter Dutton said the date marked a “day of depravity” in a social media post, warning that Hamas’ attacks “awoke and exposed an anti-Semitic rot afflicting Western democracies”.

“Israel has every right to defend its territory and its people from existential threats,” the Opposition Leader said.

He said the Coalition stood with Israel “rather than treating her like an adversary”, in a thinly veiled shot at the Albanese government, which has maintained calls for a ceasefire.

“We support Australians of Jewish faith – because you are cherished Australian citizens,” Mr Dutton said.

More to come