Jewish community rallies at in Melbourne for ‘Freedom March’

Melbourne’s Jewish community has rallied to mark the nine months since Hamas’ attack on Israel.

More than 150 members of Melbourne’s Jewish community have rallied to mark the

nine months since Hamas’ attack on Israel, with federal MP Josh Burns joining the march.

The group gathered at Caulfield Park on Sunday to call for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.

The group, including federal Labor MP Josh Burns (right), marched around Caulfield Park in support of Israelis still being held hostage in the occupied Palestinian Territories. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Many held signs with the portraits of people either killed or kidnapped on October 7. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

As they marched down Balaclava Rd, many protesters held portraits of those killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack in Israel.

Federal MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish and the Labor member for the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, also attended Sunday’s rally.

Last month, his electorate office was vandalised in an anti-Semitic attack.

Speaking in parliament last week, Mr Burns said he “desperately” wanted to see an end to the violence in Gaza.

“This conflict is about people,” he said in a post on social media on Thursday.

“It is about two peoples who deserve to live in dignity and peace.

“That is what we want for the people of Israel and that is what we want for the Palestinian people.”

The march comes nine months after the attack in Israel. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

People paid tribute to those who died on October 7. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The group then gathered around portraits of victims of the October 7 attack in the park after completing the walk.

Many were seen embracing one another as they remembered those who were killed.

Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Palestine activists gathered once again at their weekly protests in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.

People gathered outside Parliament House in Melbourne in support of the Palestinian people. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Several people were seen flying the Palestinian flag. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The weekly protest renewed calls for the removal of Israeli military forces from Gaza.

The protest worked its way towards the State Library, where those in attendance listened to the speakers calling for the end of the violence in Gaza.

The protest coincided nine months after the October 7 attacks. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

People were calling for the end of the war. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

It comes as organisers plan to hold a snap rally on Thursday outside the Australian Labor Party Victoria office in the Docklands.

“This snap rally calls on the Labor government and MPs to publicly call for an end to the Gaza genocide, and to sanction Israel,” event organisers stated.