Published: 23 January 2025
Last updated: 23 January 2025
I have visited Israel many times in my life, but last week I was present for an extraordinarily significant moment for Israel and the region.
After 15 months of war, hostages coming home. After 15 months of war, ceasefire.
After what began with the horrific atrocities on 7 October 2023, there is, finally, a glimmer of hope.
I saw and heard some deeply affecting things in Israel.
What happened on 7 October is visible everywhere – pictures of hostages greet you right from the arrivals terminal at Ben Gurion airport.
Walking through the streets of Kibbutz Be’eri where more than 130 people were murdered by Hamas is an experience that will never leave me.
I saw homes that were once full of life, streets and gardens that were peaceful, ripped apart on that day.
An Australian grandmother, Galit Carbone, was murdered in her home at the kibbutz that day. Danny Majzner, a survivor of the attack and Galit’s brother, generously shared his family’s story and hosted my visit.
At the Nova music festival Hamas murdered 340 people and took dozens of others hostage. Shalev Biton guided us around the site and shared his story with me. Shalev had returned from a working holiday in Australia just before going to the festival. He narrowly avoided death after escaping the music festival and running for kilometres, sheltered by the selfless actions of a nearby farm manager. Shalev’s story is one of horror and hope.
The stories of the many lives lost, hostages taken and desire for the conflict to end was repeated in my meetings with senior Israeli officials.
It was an honour to meet the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog. We reflected on our longstanding personal friendship which echoes the bonds of friendship between so many Israelis and Australians and our two great nations. I also had productive meetings with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice Yariv Levin.
