Albanese booed at Bondi Beach vigil as Australia confronts antisemitism after Hanukkah attack
Memorial for Bondi victims draws about 10,000 mourners as politics, security and policy debates intensify in the wake of the deadly attack.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed as he attended a memorial vigil on Bondi Beach for the victims of the Hanukkah weekend mass shooting that left 15 people dead. The event drew about 10,000 mourners, including Albanese, members of the opposition and Australia’s Jewish community. David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, told the crowd the moment marked the nadir of antisemitism in the country and should be the turning point when light starts to eclipse the darkness.
Many in the crowd erupted when opposition leader Sussan Ley was mentioned, as Ley has pledged that a future coalition would reverse a decision by Albanese’s government to recognize a Palestinian state.
Jewish leaders and Israeli officials have criticized the Albanese government for not acting on warning signs of rising antisemitism in Australia prior to the Bondi Beach attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted a letter he sent to Albanese earlier this year over the Palestinian state recognition, saying the move pOURS fuel on the antisemitic fire.
The Dec. 14 attack left 15 people dead and dozens hospitalized. The shooters were a father-son duo, and the father was killed during the assault. The son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, woke from a coma after recovering from severe injuries and faces charges of murder and terrorism.
Separately, anti-terror police detained seven men as authorities laid to rest the youngest Bondi Beach victim. The detentions come as authorities broaden their investigation into the attack and its broader implications for security and social cohesion.
The memorial and its aftermath have intensified a national conversation about antisemitism and policy responses, with politicians across the spectrum weighing security measures, diplomatic positions on recognition of a Palestinian state, and ways to support Jewish communities in Australia. As investigations continue, officials say vigilance and partnership with communities remain central to preventing a recurrence.
