Kumar Bahukhandi
Police set up a cordon line at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. George Chan/Getty Images
Bondi shooting: At least 11 people have been killed in a mass shooting by two gunmen at the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where Jews were celebrating a festival. Eleven others, including two police officers, are reported to be injured. Police have killed one of the attackers.
Eleven people have been killed and one gunman was also shot dead in a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia. The attack took place on the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Now, a shocking piece of information has emerged: there were already concerns about a potential attack against the Jewish community in Australia. Israel had reportedly warned Australia about this possibility.
There were already concerns about a potential attack against the Jewish community in Australia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had even warned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about rising antisemitism. The Sydney attack proved these fears to be true. Following the terrorist attack, chaos erupted on the beach. People who had gathered to celebrate were forced to flee in all directions to save their lives.
Netanyahu warned Albanese
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he had warned his Australian counterpart that the country’s policies were fueling antisemitism. He described the shooting as a brutal murder and said that antisemitism spreads when leaders remain silent. He said, “You have to take action instead of showing weakness.” This is not the first incident of antisemitism in Australia. Aggression against Jews began in October 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people. Just days later, an inverted red triangle was spray-painted outside a Jewish bakery in Sydney.
Increase in antisemitic incidents
When Israel launched a retaliatory military operation against Hamas, antisemitic incidents increased further. This trend continued. Attacks were carried out on Jewish-related sites, and offensive slogans were written on walls. Following these incidents, Jewish parents became afraid to send their children to daycare. Several Jewish schools have implemented additional security measures. Given the situation, the Australian government appointed its first special envoy to combat antisemitism last year.
Australia, with a total population of 27 million, has approximately 150,000 members of the Jewish community. This community is small in number but deeply integrated into society. It is estimated that about one-third of them live in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including the Bondi area. A person near the scene of Sunday’s attack said that being Jewish has become incredibly challenging in recent years. They might have to move to Israel one day. Israel now seems to be the only safe place in the world for Jews.
