Jewish leaders call for unity on Hamas hostage release
Jewish leaders are urging the Australian government to continue to advocate for the release of hundreds of people being held hostage in Gaza.
The Australian/Israeli community is calling for the release of 200 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
Australian Jewish leaders have launched a campaign for the release of hostages being held captive by militant group Hamas.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, targeting border communities and people at a music festival.
More than 1400 people have died the vast majority civilians, while nearly 200 people are still being held hostage.
In response, Israel has vowed to eradicate the Islamist group.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the conflict was a global tragedy and an affront to human rights.
“We have to do everything we can to remember those people who are suffering minute-by-minute, being held captive by those sadists and barbarians,” he said on Thursday.
“This has unified the Jewish world, but not only the Jewish world; all people of civility and decency who stand on the side of human rights are with us and we feel that.
ECAJ president Jillian Segal said there were not just Israelis and Jewish people amongst the hostages but citizens from other nations who had been caught up in the conflict.
“We have to keep asking ‘Where are the hostages?’ and to release them through all the international forums,” she said.
“It’s frustrating and it’s upsetting, but what we can do is at least have the Jewish community, the general community and the political community here in Australia stand with us and express their solidarity because that is of great comfort.”
Mr Ryvchin commended the federal government for joining with the international community to call for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages.
He added that Industry Minister Ed Husic, who said Palestinians were being “collectively punished” for Hamas’ barbarism, was concerned about the loss of civilian life, as the council was.
“The only way to protect civilians is to defeat this terrorist organisation in its entirety,” Mr Ryvchin said.
“There can never be peace for as long as this group of thugs and bandits and barbarians rules over the Palestinian people.”
Report: Maeve Bannister/AAP
