Tense scenes in Melbourne as Israel supporters square off against pro-Palestine activists holding ‘heartless’ vigil three years to the day since the bloody October 7 massacre
Pro-Palestine protesters held coordinated vigils in Melbourne and Sydney on 7 October 2026 to mark the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The controversial choice to hold the commemorations on the anniversary date drew fierce criticism from political leaders, including NSW Premier Chris Minns who described the vigils as "heartless", and sparked tensions between pro-Palestine protesters and Israeli supporters.
The Melbourne vigil escalated into confrontations between demonstrators and police, with Israeli activists holding a counter-protest, whilst the Sydney event with approximately 150 attendees was considerably quieter and featured poetry readings organised by groups including Jews Against the Occupation '48. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane condemned the vigils as insensitive and deliberately provocative, though authorities confirmed they had no legal basis to prevent the events proceeding. The October 7, 2023 attack killed approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and triggered sustained Israeli bombing campaigns on Gaza.
- Pro-Palestine vigils held on October 7 anniversary sparked political backlash
- Melbourne saw tensions and police; Sydney event was quieter
- Government confirmed the events were legal despite harsh criticism
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On 7 October 2023, Hamas, an armed Palestinian group, attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking hostages. Israel responded with a prolonged military campaign in Gaza, where many Palestinians have been killed and large areas damaged.
The attack and the war that followed have deepened divisions in Australia, including between people who support Israel and those who support Palestinian rights. Vigils and protests about the conflict can draw strong reactions because people disagree over how to remember the attack and discuss the wider conflict.
Both sides, in good faith
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The case for
Supporters of the vigils could argue that commemorating Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza is a legitimate act of mourning and protest, and that the anniversary makes the link between the Hamas attack and the conflict that followed especially salient. They may also see the events as an exercise of lawful expression, with a quieter Sydney gathering centred on poetry and remembrance rather than confrontation.
The case against
Critics could argue that holding the vigils on the anniversary of an attack that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, risks appearing to overshadow or diminish Israeli victims’ grief. Given the date’s profound significance for Jewish and Israeli communities, they may regard another date as a more considerate choice and see the timing as needlessly provocative, even if the gatherings were lawful.