PM vows to fight ‘vile’ anti-Semitism in International Holocaust Remembrance Day address

Anthony Albanese has used his International Holocaust Remembrance Day address to vow action against “vile” anti-Semitism amid mounting pressure over a spate of attacks in Australia’s biggest cities.

January 27 marks 80 years since Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Of the estimated 1.1 million prisoners killed at the notorious Nazi death camp, around 1 million were Jews. The remaining 100,000 victims were mostly Poles, Roma and Soviet prisoners of war.

Nazi Germany killed some 6 million Jews in total.

In his address, the Prime Minister said the dark legacy of the Holocaust lingered “across the decades like a terrible shadow”.

“The devastation felt when witnessing the horror, destruction and brutality inflicted by Hamas on October 7 is reminiscent of the dark and painful stories of the past,” Mr Albanese said.

“Eighty years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, our observance carries a powerful message about the enduring strength of the Jewish people and about our unwavering commitment to combat hateful prejudice in all of its forms.”

Hamas killed more than 1200 in its brutal October 7 attack on Israel, representing the worst loss of Jewish loss since the Holocaust.

The Islamist group’s militants took hundreds more hostage as they retreated into Gaza.

Much of the assault was captured in graphic videos that flooded social media.

Witnesses have shared accounts of whole families being slaughtered and horrific sexual violence.

Four Israeli hostages were escorted to a stage in a Gaza City square by members of the Al-Qassam Brigades as their release and handover to the Red Cross took place on Saturday, January 25. The hostages were named as Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag. Footage from Yahya Sobeih shows the scene in Gaza’s Palestine Square. Credit: Yaiha Sobeih via Storyful

At home, anti-Semitism has surged since the attack, with an Australian Federal Police-led taskforce investigating several attacks at synagogues and in suburbs with high Jewish populations in Sydney and Melbourne.

“Tragically, we are not yet free of anti-Semitism,” Mr Albanese said.

“It stands in vile opposition to all we are as a nation and all that we have built together over generations, we will not tolerate it in any form.

“It has no place in our nation, and we will combat it with the full force of our laws and with total commitment from every level of government.”

At least 40 people have been arrested in relation to the recent attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said last week it was possible foreign actors had paid local criminals to carry out some of the attacks.