Bondi Beach attack exposes rising antisemitism in Australia

On Sunday two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people and injuring dozens. It is Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than three decades. The motive remains under investigation, but officials have treated the assault as an act of antisemitism and terrorism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack targeted Jewish Australians and stressed that the government will act to protect communities and address antisemitism, including appointing an antisemitism envoy and pursuing tougher penalties for Nazi symbols.

The two attackers were a 50-year-old man who was killed at the scene and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who was tackled by a bystander and remains in a Sydney hospital in critical condition. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, including two rabbis and at least one Holocaust survivor. Australia’s Jewish population is about 117,000 in a country of roughly 28 million. Since Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, anti-Jewish incidents—firebombings, arson, graffiti, and hate speech—have surged nearly fivefold, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The spike has prompted ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess to say the risk of deadly antisemitic violence is his top priority.

Responding to the attack, Albanese reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to safeguarding Jewish communities and maintaining security, while avoiding escalation in foreign policy. He highlighted government steps, including appointing an Antisemitism Envoy and backing stricter penalties for Nazi symbols. The opposition criticized the government for not doing enough to shield Jewish Australians, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the violence to a broader failure to confront antisemitism in Australia. Analysts cautioned that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long shaped domestic tensions, and that determining the attacker’s motives will require thorough investigations. A criminologist at the Australian National University noted that social isolation and marginalization can drive individuals toward extremist expressions.

The investigation also raises questions about security and gun laws. Officials said the weapons used were legally obtained, prompting a review of firearm policy. Three improvised explosive devices were found at the scene, underscoring how the attack could have been even more deadly. Community leaders from Muslim and interfaith groups condemned the violence and called for calm, while a bystander who tackled Akram—Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Muslim father of two—has been hailed as a hero. A fundraiser for al-Ahmed’s family quickly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the same time, tensions persisted, with incidents such as vandalism at a Muslim cemetery and a bystander being moved from a Bondi memorial area for concerns about disruption.

The Bondi attack has prompted a broader national reckoning about antisemitism in a diverse country with deep security ties to the United States. Canberra has pledged to strengthen measures against antisemitism and monitor extremist networks, while security agencies review gun policies and emergency response protocols. Community leaders stressed that a moment of national unity should translate into sustained action, not a transient outpouring of sentiment. The coming days will test Australia’s resolve to protect minority communities without compromising civil liberties as officials navigate domestic security needs in a global environment shaped by crises in the Middle East.