Anthony Albanese ‘hopeful’ of Middle East Gaza ceasefire holding

The world remains hopeful a ceasefire in the Middle East will hold, the Prime Minister says, as state leaders pledge to toughen hate-speech laws in response to anti-Semitic attacks.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will come into effect on Sunday afternoon, Australian time, following a 15-month war.

The three-phased agreement will come into effect after Israel agreed to the deal, which will see hostages also released, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire was only temporary.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said communities across the globe want the ceasefire to stay in place, despite lingering tensions in the Middle East.

“We’re certainly hopeful, as I think the world is, that this ceasefire holds. It’s what the world has wanted to see and it is good that it has occurred and that it will come into place,” he told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

“We want to see hostages released, we want to see proper aid be able to get to the people of Gaza, and we want Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live in peace and security.”

Israel’s war in Gaza was launched after Hamas’ attack in 2023, which killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities.

Almost 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s retaliatory strikes according to the local health ministry.

The ceasefire comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state government would look at strengthening hate speech laws following a series of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney.

The latest incident saw a house formerly owned by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin targeted in an arson and graffiti attack on Friday.

Mr Minns said the attacks were “despicable” and further incidents need to be prevented.

“The initial spark (of anti-Semitism) isn’t going to a synagogue or a house and lighting a match, the initial spark is hate speech in our community,” he said.

“Our government’s going to make a decision soon, a difficult decision but the right one, to strengthen hate speech laws in NSW, so if someone’s preaching hatred in the community, it doesn’t manifest itself two months or three months later in a firebombing or an attack or something worse.”

The prime minister said states and territories were united in preventing anti-Semitism.

“We’re determined to stamp this out, there is no place in Australia for anti-Semitism. There is no place for the sort of outrageous acts that we have seen,” Mr Albanese said.