Australian Jewish community welcomes hostage deal

Trump announces Israel-Hamas peace deal as hostages set to return

Welcomed by Australian Jewish community

President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of a peace agreement that will see all 48 remaining hostages released and bring an end to the devastating two-year war.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon.”

Eecutive Council of Australian Jewry President Alex Ryvchin said today is a good day for peace and for the people of Sydney.

“For two years, we have prayed for the defeat of Hamas and an end to the torture and misery inflicted on the hostages and their families. Now, thanks to Israeli sacrifice and strength and US diplomatic power, this will become a reality”.

He said at virtually the same time as this news broke, the NSW Court of Appeal prohibited the “obscene” rally planned to take place at the Opera House on Sunday.

“This is a win for the people of this city and a blow to the pro-war activists. A line has now been drawn” he said.

Ryvchin thanked the police for protecting the people of New South Wales, as well as his friends and colleagues, Simone Abel, Michele Goldman and the Jewish Centre for Law and Justice for ensuring the voice of the community was heard in those proceedings.

“May the era of peace be upon us, may the hostages swiftly return, and may we see brotherly relations for all the peoples of the region” he concluded.

The Zionist Federation of Australia has welcomed the announcement with cautious optimism.

“After 733 days in captivity, we are filled with cautious optimism that the remaining 48 hostages will be returned home to their families,” ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said.

“We are also filled with immeasurable sadness that so many will not be coming home alive after being murdered by Hamas.”

Of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, only 20 are believed to be alive.

Under Trump’s 20-point peace plan, Hamas must release all hostages within 72 hours of the agreement’s implementation.

In exchange, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 other Palestinian detainees arrested since the war began.

For every deceased Israeli hostage returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

“We note that those who continue to protest against Israel, even as a peace agreement has been signed, reveal their true colours; they are not standing for peace, but against it,” ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said.

“For the Australian Jewish community, the hope of seeing the hostages finally return after two agonising years brings both deep emotion and profound relief,” he said.

“This day may yet close one of the most painful chapters in living memory.”

Leibler emphasised the need for Hamas’s permanent removal from power.

“Hamas’ reign of terror has brought only destruction and despair to both Israelis and Palestinians,” he said.

“This peace plan must be the beginning of Hamas’ permanent removal from power in Gaza and its complete demilitarisation. Only then can Israelis and Palestinians begin to build a future based on co-existence and security.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said the Australian Jewish community welcomes agreement

“Hopefully the next phases – the end of any Hamas role in Gaza, and the commitment by the international community that Hamas and other terrorist groups are disarmed – will also be agreed upon very soon”, he said.

Dr Rubenstein said “This entire tragedy could haqve and should have been avoided if only the international community had believed Hamas’ promises to murder Jews and attack Israel, and the war would have ended far earlier if the international community had pressured Hamas and its supporters rather than encouraging the terror group to keep fighting with unwarranted and unfair condemnation of Israel”.

He said the international community must now do all it can to ensure every point of the Trump plan is implemented, as this is the only way to bring peace.

The right leaning Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has also welcomed the deal.

AJA CEO Robert Gregory said “At the same time, we acknowledge the terrible price that must be paid, with the release of hundreds of Palestinian Arab terrorists, including murderers and rapists. These are some of the most evil men alive”.

He said the October 7 massacre must never be forgotten.

Gregory believes once the hostages are safely returned, Hamas’s murderers must be brought to justice, and countries that shelter terrorists such as Qatar and Turkey must be held accountable.

“October 7 also unleashed an ugly anti-Israel movement in Australia, which has fuelled a surge in antisemitism. The Australian Government and society must take strong and immediate measures to confront this hatred” he said.

The Australasian Union for Progressive Judaism said it is thrilled at the announcement.

In a statement, the roof body of the Progressive movement said, “For two years we have carried not only the pain of October 7, but also the consequences for Israel, the Jewish world, and the Palestinian people. But today we have been given a reason to hope”

The movement said it hopes that the rise in antisemitism over the last few years will abate and there will be a more secure and peaceful solution for all Israel and all the peoples of the Middle East.

Rabbi Moshe Kahn, President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, said the news from Israel “stirs every emotion, hope, fear, longing”, and everyone’s hearts are with their families who have lived this nightmare for far too long.

Rabbi Kahn said, “We pray that this moment brings safety, healing, and light after so much darkness. May Hashem, Matir Asurim ‘the One who frees the captives’ return them all swiftly, and may we soon see true peace for Am Yisrael and for the entire region”.