Family of Naama Levy, 19yo Israeli captive to Hamas among 5000 attendees at Sydney pro-Israel vigil

Thousands gathered in Sydney to demand the release of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.

Zach and Atara Shachar whose cousin Naama Levy, 19, is being held hostage by Hamas. Picture: John Feder / The Australian.

Five thousand people gathered in Sydney on Sunday to hold a “Set Them Free” vigil, demanding the release of more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

Among them were Zack Shachar and wife Atara, whose 19-year-old cousin Naama Levy is among those held by Hamas.

Ms Levy was the young, bloodied woman in the widely circulated video shared by Hamas in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks. In the video, Ms Levy, in a black top and bloodied, grey tracksuit pants, was seen bundled out from the back of a Jeep, her wrists zip-tied behind her back.

The video was one of the defining moments that captured the terrorist attacks over a month ago. Mr Shachar said the family had heard “nothing” about her since then. “She was in one of the kibbutz,” he said, holding a sign that read: “Naama we are waiting for you / bring them home!”

Trigger warning: Hamas terrorists kidnapped an Israeli young woman earlier today.

Hamas = Isis.

Same ideology, different names.

The footage coming out of southern Israel makes this absolutely clear. pic.twitter.com/DV1buYx2Br

— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) October 7, 2023

19-year-old Naama Levy is one of many Israelis' held hostage by Hamas following the October 7 attacks. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Shachar said he and his family initially evacuated their home in Sydney’s north shore and moved into a hotel for a few days in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks out of fear.

“At the beginning, we felt insecure,” he said. “We removed any Jewish symbols from our house, we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

He said they felt “a bit” safer now, but have still not put up any Jewish symbols at their home.

The vigil was held at Moore Park and was organised by many of the same Jewish community groups that held the vigil at Rodney Reserve in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attacks.

The event featured a number of community leaders from nationalities whose citizens had also been taken hostage by Hamas, and organisers handed out flags to attendees of those nations, including Thailand, India, and Germany.

Attendees also held signs that featured pictures of those held captive with “kidnapped” in bold capital letters.

It came as Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Jillian Segal said anti-Semitic incidents in Australia had “soared by at least 400 per cent” since October 7.

Attendees hold ‘kidnapped’ signs at the ‘Set Them Free’ vigil in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: John Feder / The Australian.

“We saw the uprising of anti-Semitism here and in the rest of the world. Against Jews on the steps of our own Sydney Opera House. And we now have ongoing waves of anti-Semitism in our community.

“Frightening and shocking hate-filled speeches by imams, a procession of motorcycles through the east in order to intimidate us.

“We all yearn for peace in the Middle East but as we all know … one cannot make peace with those who deny one’s right to exist,” she said.

“We also yearn for our peaceful existence here in Australia before October 7.

“We must tackle anti-Semitism here and we will.”

Ms Segal rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. “There can be no ceasefire until every hostage has been released,” she said to a cheering crowd.

“There can be no ceasefire until the power of Hamas to threaten innocent communities has been vanquished.”

The event was attended by federal member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender.

A similar, smaller event was held in Brisbane where hundreds rallied in the heart of the CBD on Sunday morning in support of Israel, but plans to march through the city were abandoned following violent protests in Melbourne.

Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies Jason Steinberg said the rally remained in the city’s Queen’s Gardens and was “very peaceful”.

Lydia Lynch