Posted: 2024-10-07 08:43:53

Communities across Australia have paused to remember lost and missing loved ones one year on from the Hamas terrorist attack on southern Israel. 

Around 1,200 people in Israel were killed in the October 7 attack and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. 

The Gazan Health Ministry says more than 41,000 Palestinians have since been killed during the Israeli offensive which followed. 

Around 10,000 people attended a candlelight vigil remembering the Israeli lives lost in Sydney's east, overlooking the ocean.

People gathering at sunset, sitting in front a stage with a flag of David, while someone wears a flag of Israel

Organisers said 10,000 people were at the candlelight vigil in Sydney's eastern suburbs. (ABC News: Andrew Whitington)

As the crowds gathered, two large screens cycled through photos of loved ones with the words 'in their honour' written over the top.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and opposition leader Peter Dutton were in attendance. 

A large crowd , some waving Israeli flags, converge around PM Anthony Albanese, who holds a lantern.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann at a Melbourne vigil marking the anniversary of the October 7 attack. (ABC News: AAP James Ross)

About 7,000 people also gathered at a vigil in Moorabbin in Melbourne's south, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, some bringing lanterns to commemorate those killed on October 7.

Ian Goodhardt brought two lanterns, each signed with the name of someone killed in the Hamas attack. 

A man holding an Israel flag and two lanterns

Ian Goodhardt brought two lanterns to the vigil in Melbourne. (ABC News: Syan Vallance)

"They were just people living their own life, just trying to be good to people and help the world and they just get brutally attacked and murdered," Mr Goodhardt said.

"I think [October 7] brought a tremendous darkness into the world … we just want to respond to that by shedding some light and some goodness and some hope," Mr Goodhardt said.

Zachary Goldman said he believed the Melbourne vigil not only marked the attacks, but also reflected the strength of the city's Jewish community.

A young man at a vigil

Zachary Goldsmith says the vigil showed the resilience of Melbourne's Jewish community. (ABC News: Syan Vallance)

"In the face of the hate that we are facing at the moment, we're here, we're proud, we're strong and we're not going anywhere," he said.

Hundreds mark one year of conflict in Gaza

At Sydney's Town Hall there was a sombre atmosphere as hundreds gathered for a vigil to remember the Palestinian lives lost in the Gaza war, and those who had been killed in Lebanon in a recent escalation of the conflict. 

People gathering at a vigil in Sydney's Town Hall carrying flags of Palestine

People at Sydney's Town Hall attend a vigil for those who have died in Gaza and Lebanon since October 7, 2023. (ABC News: Nabil Al-Nashar)

In Lebanon, more than 1,900 people have been killed and more than 9,000 wounded in almost a year of cross-border fighting. Most of the deaths have occurred during the past two weeks, according to Lebanese government statistics.

Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is listed by Australia as a terrorist group, have traded fire across Lebanon's southern border almost daily since the day after the October 7 attack.

The event started with a Jewish prayer for the dead, followed by a Christian prayer and finally a Muslim prayer. 

A man with a beard stands in a vigil in Sydney

Raghib Saleh said it was important to attend the vigil to pay tribute to the civilians killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. (ABC News: Nabil Al-Nashar)

Mourners honoured those who had died through prayers, spoken word and traditional Lebanese and Palestinian resistance anthems.

"We're all coming together basically to oppose the genocide, oppose the war, and basically show our support for the people who are grieving," one person at the vigil told the ABC.

A large crowd in a dark street hold candles.

Crowds in Sydney held candles and flew Palestinian flags.  (ABC News: Nabil Al-Nashar)

In Melbourne, crowds of people wearing keffiyehs converged on the edge of Kings Domain, south of Melbourne's CBD, in a silent march. 

Tasnim Sammak from Free Palestine Coalition said coming together on October 7 was of the utmost importance.

A woman holding an umbrella in a park

Tasnim Sammak from Free Palestine Coalition.  (ABC News)

"Just yesterday I received news of five women in my family being killed in Gaza," Ms Sammak said.

"The air strikes began on October 7, that was the first day that the bombs started and they haven't gone silent since." 

Demonstrations held across country

On Monday morning in Darwin, a handful of protesters with Palestine Action Group Garramilla hung banners above peak hour traffic.

People holding signs that say FREE PALESTINE and CEASEFIRE and STOP ARMING GENOCIDE on a bridge

On Monday in the Northern Territory capital, people aligned with Palestine Action Group Garramilla unfurled banners and Palestinian flags above Bagot road. (ABC News: Mitchell Abram)

The pro-Palestinian banners were displayed along a footbridge above the busy Bagot road, one of the main roads into Darwin's CBD.

People gathering outside Parliament, holding Israeli flags

On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside Parliament House in Canberra with flags of Israel, calling for an end to what they say is rising anti-Semitism. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Hundreds of demonstrators with Israeli flags also gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra on Monday afternoon to mark the anniversary and to protest what they say is rising anti-Semitism in the Australian community.

The rally at Federation Hall was organised by Never Again is Now, which describes itself as a Christian grassroots movement standing against anti-Semitism.

An older man gives a speech holding his fist high as an Australian flag waves in background with Parliament House also visibl

Tony Abbott, a patron of the Christian group Never Again is Now, was a member of the rally outside parliament. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Former prime minister Tony Abbott, a patron of Never Again is Now, expressed support for Israel describing October 7 as "the worst catastrophe" to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

In South Australia, about 80 pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered on the steps of Parliament House for the second day in Adelaide.

About 80 pro-Palestine supporters on the steps of South Australia's parliament house with signs and flags

About 80 pro-Palestine supporters gathered on the steps of South Australia's parliament house in Adelaide for a candlelight vigil on Monday, October 7. Demonstrators waved flags and held signs. (ABC News: Stephanie Richards)

The group waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and held signs — some of which called for a ceasefire — while initially sitting in silence, surrounded by small white candles from 6pm.

One of the organiser's told the gathering that the candlelight vigil was "an act of resistance".

The demonstrators also read aloud a list of names of the children killed in the conflict.

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