Richard Marles is doing the media round this morning. He is asked about the two year anniversary of the October 7 attacks on the ABC and says:

It’s very difficult to make sense of it. What happened on this day two years ago was the loss of more appalling terrorist and on Israel. And as such, today really can be only one thing, and that is a day of remembrance and commemoration for them and thoughts are very much for their families. Of course, what we’ve seen unfold over the course of the last two years has been absolutely horrific, and we have seen immense suffering. We have seen a significant loss of innocent life in Gaza, and clearly, our thoughts are very much there as well. And it leads us to where we are today, which is that we want to see a ceasefire. We want to see a return of those hostages. We want to see a pathway to an enduring peace in the Middle East, and that really can only come about through the implementation of a two-state solution (which many in the Israeli government have rejected)

Q: As you say, the conflict has affected so many different communities here in Australia. is it your view that today is not the day for separate demonstrations?

Marles:

Oh, today is not a day for demonstrations. Today is a day for remembrance and commemoration. I mean, obviously, this is a very difficult day for the Jewish community in Australia and it is a very solemn day but, in fact, the Jewish community around the world, and the it is utterly appropriate this day that those who lost their lives two years ago are remembered and commemorated in the most solemn way.