By Anthony Segaert
Black cardboard cut-outs representing those killed and taken hostage in Hamas’ October 7 attacks were placed on the foreshore of Bondi Beach on Thursday afternoon as a delegation of family and friends of victims remembered their loved ones.
Several hundred Israel-Australians joined the gathering, which occurred less than 24 hours after a fringe group of pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne targeted the visiting families.
Amit Parpara and Ofir Tamir say they miss their friend Noa Argamani, taken hostage by Hamas in October.Credit: Louise Kennerley
Amit Parpara and Ofir Tamir, 26-year-old students from Israel, spoke to the crowd of their friend Noa Argamani, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants in the shock October 7 attack that left 1200 people – mainly Israeli civilians – dead. Israeli rockets and ground attacks have since killed at least 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
“I saw the terrorists going through Israel and I knew Noa was at the party,” Parpara said. He could track her location via her phone and, after her location didn’t update for a while, it began to move as Hamas terrorists took her hostage.
“She was kidnapped … I saw via her live location.”
Parpara said his friend’s mother has stage 4 cancer. He said they all lived on the hope she would be reunited with her daughter once more.
Israeli-Australians gathered at Bondi on Thursday afternoon.Credit: Louise Kennerley
The truce between Israel and Hamas was extended on Thursday (AEDT) as the terror group freed 16 more hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.
Members of the group yelled at journalists when they asked about the anti-Israeli event in Melbourne on Wednesday night, saying the speakers were only here to talk about their friends and family.
The Israeli ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, was in attendance but did not speak to the audience and declined to speak to the media.
There were outbursts of singing among the crowd, who recited the Australian and Israeli national anthems, as well as the Hebrew song Gesher Tzar Me’od. It roughly translates to: “The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the essence is not to be afraid”.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.