Almost two years have passed since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. That day was the bloodiest in Jewish history since the Holocaust. Families were torn apart, children were murdered, women were raped, and entire communities were burnt to the ground. Hamas dragged more than 250 people into Gaza’s tunnels as hostages. For Israel, and for all people who cherish human life, that day marked a turning point.
A Nation Under Fire
Since then, Israel has been fighting on several fronts. In Gaza, we continue to dismantle Hamas’s terror network. In the north, Hezbollah attacks us daily from Lebanon, forcing tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes. From the south, Houthi missiles and drones are launched from Yemen, targeting Israel’s cities and ports. And behind them all stands Iran, the driving force of this axis of terror, arming, training, and directing those who seek Israel’s destruction.
Operation Rising Lion: Defending a Nation’s Future
In June, Israel carried out Operation Rising Lion, a pre-emptive strike deep inside Iran. Our defence forces targeted nuclear and military sites that posed an existential danger not only to Israel but to the world. With precision and determination, Israel dismantled missile factories, centrifuge halls, and command bunkers. We achieved air superiority, while our defences protected our skies from Iran’s missiles. This showed the world that Israel will act with strength to defend its people, and it demonstrated the support of our allies, led by the United States.
The Faces of the Hostages — and the Face of Hamas
Yet even as we look outward to Iran, our hearts remain with the hostages in Gaza. Fifty innocent Israelis are still in captivity. Of those, we believe only twenty are alive. The latest videos released by Hamas revealed their unimaginable suffering. The world saw skeletal bodies of young men, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, denied food, medicine, and dignity. One was forced to dig his own grave for the cameras. Another collapsed from exhaustion on the floor. The cruelty is total. These images recalled for many the darkest days of the Holocaust.
“Peace cannot be built on terror. It can only come when violence is renounced, when Israel’s right to exist is recognised, and when life is valued more than death.”
This is the true face of Hamas. They are not freedom fighters or partners for peace. They are terrorists who murder, rape, torture, and use human lives as bargaining chips. That is why Israel must continue operations in Gaza until Hamas’s terror network is dismantled. It is not a choice. It is the only path to bringing our hostages home and securing our future.
Peace Built on Truth, Not Terror
Sadly, instead of confronting this reality, some in the international community choose empty symbolism. The Australian Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state at this time will not create peace. It will not free a single hostage. It will not deliver aid. What it will do is encourage Hamas by rewarding violence.
Peace cannot be built on terror. It can only come when violence is renounced, when Israel’s right to exist is recognised, and when life is valued more than death.
This war is not only Israel’s struggle. Terrorism and extremism target the values that underpin all free societies: the sanctity of life, the freedom of faith, and the dignity of the family. These are values Christians and Jews around the world share. Israel stands on the front line of this battle, but the consequences reach far beyond our borders.
A Shared Hope and a Shared Faith
Through it all, what sustains us is the knowledge that we are not alone. Across Australia, Christian communities pray for Israel and speak up for truth. Your friendship, your faith, and your solidarity give us strength. When you lift your voices for Israel, we hear them. When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we feel it. For this, I thank you with all my heart.
Israel’s fight is not endless. Our vision is not only to survive, but to live in peace. For generations, Jews and Christians alike have prayed for that day. Together, we hold onto that hope. Together, we believe that peace will come, and that every child, Israeli and Palestinian, will one day live free from terror.
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