At least twelve people were killed and 29 injured in a shooting that rocked Australia on its most iconic and touristy beach, Bondi Beach. The massacre occurred during the celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah , when two gunmen opened fire on the crowd: over a thousand people had arrived for the event, Chanukah by the Sea, advertised as a family-friendly evening of fun. And the target was precisely Sydney's Jewish community, as confirmed by the New South Wales police, who therefore declared it a terrorist act. Some participants were shot, many fled or disappeared, even into the water. Among the victims was also Sydney rabbi Eli Schlanger. Only one of the two gunmen was killed by officers, while the other was arrested and is in critical condition. The name of one of the two – who is not specified – is Naveed Akram of Bonnyrigg , a neighbourhood in south-western Sydney. In the deceased gunman's car, police reported at a press conference that they found and defused an IED, an improvised explosive device. Officers also raided a home in western Sydney and examined"several suspicious items found in the vicinity" of Bondi Beach. However, there is suspicion that there is also a third attacker, and authorities are continuing their investigations in this regard as well.

“We thought it was fireworks, then people started panicking” – Eyewitnesses at the celebration reported seeing two men get out of a vehicle on Campbell Parade, near the Bondi Pavilion, and then open fire at around 6.40pm (8.40am GMT). Images shared on social media, the Daily Star explains, show a heavy police intervention in the area, popular with locals and tourists. Further footage shows two people dressed in black firing shots onto the beach from a small bridge overlooking a car park. Another, longer video reconstructs what happened before these images: an Australian citizen approaches one of the killers from behind and disarms him (read), then the man who was armed heads towards the bridge and reunites with the other killer, before both are shot by officers. Bondi beach, located on the eastern outskirts of the city, is an iconic spot loved by locals and tourists. It is among the most famous in the world, renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and golden sand, as well as for its surfing."We thought they were fireworks, but they weren't, it was something much worse," Elizabeth Mealey, a former journalist, told ABC News, who was dining at the Icebergs restaurant on Bondi Beach when she heard the gunshots. “People started running towards the beach, it was panic. People were just standing there, not knowing what was happening, it's scary.” “It seemed like it took us a long time to hear a siren, now a helicopter and an ambulance are arriving,” she added. “It's pandemonium and we really don't know what's happening.” The witness said she saw people running from North Bondi towards South End to get away from what they were hearing. “Eventually we heard what sounded like different types of gunfire, which we were hoping and assuming were police, and then it got a little quieter,” she added. “At this point, we're assuming it's over, but no one really knows,” she said. “It's terrifying.”

Reactions from Australia – Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said that “the Jewish community is in shock. There were 2,000 members of the Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah, lighting the first candle together on Bondi Beach. We are on high alert.” “The scenes at Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with everyone affected,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announcing that he had called an urgent meeting of the National Security Committee for this evening and stressing that the Jewish community will have all the necessary resources. The shooting, he added, is"an act of vicious anti-Semitism and terrorism that has struck at the heart of our nation. The evil unleashed on Bondi Beach today is incomprehensible, and the trauma and loss the families are facing tonight is beyond anyone's worst nightmare," he said. Albanese added that during the attack,"we saw Australians today running towards danger to help others. These Australians are heroes, and their courage has saved lives." Attacks on the prime minister, however, came from Robert Gregory, president of the Australian Jewish Association, who called it an"entirely predictable tragedy." The government "has been repeatedly warned," he said,"but has failed to take adequate measures to protect the Jewish community."

Israel's attacks – Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu also commented on the massacre, saying that Australia"added fuel to the fire of anti-Semitism" before the Sydney attack, recalling that he had sent a letter in August to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This is what the Times of Israel reported. Paraphrasing his letter, Netanyahu said that Albanese's policies, which include the recognition of a Palestinian state, encourage"the hatred of Jews that now infests your streets. Anti-Semitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders remain silent. You must replace weakness with action." Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also linked the shooting to Canberra's decision to recognize a Palestinian state."Anti-Semitic terrorism knows no borders, but the blood of those murdered is on the hands of the Australian government, which announced the recognition of a 'Palestinian' state and legitimized terrorism against Jews," the far-right minister argued in a statement expressing support for the local Jewish community. Also from Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called it a"cruel attack against Jews" and called on Australia to fight the "enormous wave of anti-Semitism" that, he said,"is afflicting" the country. Solidarity and condolences have come from Europe, where EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was"shocked by the tragic attack" and wanted to "extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims," adding that "Europe stands with Australia and Jewish communities around the world. We stand united against violence, anti-Semitism and hatred." The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union Kaja Kallas also said she was "deeply shocked," adding that "this atrocious act of violence against the Jewish community must be condemned in the strongest terms." Kallas then said "my thoughts are with all those affected, their families and the first responders who acted with courage. Australia is one of Europe's dearest friends and we stand in full solidarity with the Australian people."