In one of the deadliest incidents in Australia in years, 12 people were killed and 29 others injured on Sunday in a gun attack targeting a gathering celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. Australian authorities have classified the incident as an"anti-Semitic terrorist attack."
The attack, which occurred at 6:45 PM local time (7:45 AM GMT), was carried out by two gunmen dressed in black and carrying semi-automatic rifles, according to several witnesses at the scene. One of the attackers was killed instantly, while the other was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that police found a crude explosive device inside a vehicle linked to one of the attackers, which reinforced the hypothesis of the terrorist nature of the attack, noting that “the target was clear: to target the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.”
political accusations
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack a “vile and anti-Semitic act,” adding that it was “an attack on all Australians.” He praised the actions of some bystanders, whom he described as “heroes,” including one man who managed to disarm one of the attackers with his bare hands.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed that the attack was meticulously planned to target revelers who were participating in the ritual of lighting the first candle of Hanukkah in an open space on the beach.
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog condemned what he called a “horrific attack on Jews,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that “past Australian policies have contributed to fueling anti-Semitic sentiments,” holding the Albanese government partly responsible for the atmosphere of incitement.
The president of the Australian Jewish Association, Robert Gregory, went in the same direction, describing the attack as “expected,” saying that the government “had been repeatedly informed of threats, but had not done enough to protect the Jewish community.”
bloody scene
Panic erupted around the beach as hundreds of people fled, abandoning their belongings amidst screams and cries for help. Eyewitnesses reported seeing blood everywhere, while footage broadcast by local media showed injured people lying on the grass and weapons on the ground, including a rifle near a tree trunk.
Chilean student Camilo Diaz told AFP: “We heard continuous gunfire. It felt like 10 minutes of explosions. The weapon was very powerful.”
The attack sparked widespread international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: “France shares the pain of the Australian people,” reaffirming his country’s commitment to fighting anti-Semitism “wherever it strikes.”
Similarly, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the European Union's solidarity with Australia and Jewish communities worldwide. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the attack"targets our shared values," while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as "horrific."
religious positions
In contrast, the Australian Federal Council of Imams, the country’s highest Islamic body, condemned the attack as “horrific,” calling on all Australians, including Muslims, to stand “in a spirit of unity, compassion and solidarity.”
The attack, which struck at the heart of Australian pluralism, has revived the debate about the rise of hatred and extremism, and has also revealed the fragility of security protection in open public spaces, especially during religious or cultural events.
As investigations into the background of the attack continue, the question remains whether this attack was an individual act or the result of a wider organization, at a time when local communities are demanding stricter measures to ensure security amid escalating political and religious tensions regionally and internationally.
