'Lebanon deserves peace': Australia urged to act

A vigil to mourn those killed in Israel's bombardment of Lebanon has called on Australians to speak up against the latest attacks.

About 100 people gathered at Sydney's Town Hall on Wednesday evening for a candlelight event commemorating the dead.

"We must recognise and speak out against the latest wave of unbridled aggression unleashed by Israel in Lebanon," speaker Maha Melhem told those gathered.

"We're countering that darkness with our light and all the candles that you're holding.

"Lebanon deserves peace, justice and accountability now."

Israel has killed more than 2100 people since it began striking Lebanon in early March.

Its military has claimed it is taking aim at members of Hezbollah, but it continues to bomb areas far from the front line.

At least 168 of the people killed were children.

Those gathered on Wednesday paid tribute to children like Taline Shehab, a three-year-old crushed under her family home when Israeli missiles tore into the apartment building.

In a nod to the many artists and writers who come from Lebanon, diaspora speakers read their own poetry while musicians performed an instrumental rendition of Li Beirut, a meditation on longing and grief for the capital by iconic singer Fairuz.

Australians have called on the government to take action and help create peace in the region, as Israel and the US continue to strike Iran.

Asked if he had a message to the diaspora on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not specifically refer to those who had been killed in Lebanon.

"The loss of any innocent life is to be regretted, wherever it occurs, whatever the circumstances are" he told reporters.

He also reiterated that any ceasefire should also apply to Lebanon.

After Israel carried out one of its largest waves of strikes earlier in April, Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a joint statement with Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, the UK, Palestine and a host of other countries calling for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon.

The release also stressed the importance for international humanitarian law.

"We condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peace keepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon," the statement said.