Australia

Sydney, October 7, 2026. In Australia, the third anniversary of the Hamas attack is first and foremost a time of mourning and a reflection of the local Jewish community. The government of Australia notes the impact of the attack on its community. Emily Damari, 30, who was taken hostage and injured in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza and released in January 2025, says that "freedom has completely changed" her outlook on life. She explains: "Today, I open the fridge and say thank you." The Australian media recalls the toll of the attack, 1,200 dead and 251 hostages, and specifies that most were released during a ceasefire in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while dozens did not survive. The media also notes that, despite the rise in anti-Semitism, Jewish Australian figures claim to continue to "live proudly and openly".

In Sydney, a "somber" vigil was held at Bondi. Hundreds of people, some draped in Israeli flags, observed a minute of silence at 6:29, the time of the assault in 2023. Alex Ryvchin, co-director of the Australian Jewry, speaks of a "reflective" service for a community that has "gone through many trials". Michael Gencher, of StandWithUs Australia, places the date "in the shadow" of the massacre of December 14 at Bondi Beach. He believes that hatred towards Israel and Jews has become "more visible, more accepted and more dangerous".

On the political front, PerthNow reports the statements of Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Angus Taylor. The Prime Minister promises to "never forget what the terrorists perpetrated", mentions Australian Galit Carbone among the victims, and affirms that "Australia stands with the Jewish community". He adds that Hamas "must disarm and play no role in the future of Palestine". Angus Taylor, as pro-Palestinian marches are planned in Sydney, criticizes those who portray Israel as the "bad guy" and Hamas as the victim.

The Guardian Australia slips the event into its Morning Mail: its reporters spoke to Israeli survivors of the kibbutz, border towns, bases, and music festival. The date appears alongside purely domestic issues: immigration, climate, anonymous graves.

In this coverage, neither the Israeli legislative elections of October 27, nor the refusal of a commission of inquiry by Benyamin Netanyahu, nor the toll of the war in Gaza appear. The focus remains on the Israeli victims and the security of Australian Jews.