Former Hamas hostage warned Australian leaders about antisemitism months before Bondi Beach attack

At least 15 people were killed and dozens were wounded when gunfire erupted at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, 2025, authorities said. Australian anti-terror police detained seven men in connection with the attack as investigators sought to determine the motive and whether the assault was coordinated.

Eli Sharabi, a former Hamas hostage who spent 491 days in captivity, told Fox News Digital that he had warned Australian leaders in June about rising antisemitism and the danger it posed. During a June visit to Australia, he met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong and told them that antisemitism would lead to something worse. He recalled telling them that a hate crime would take place, and that he would “see the fears” of Jewish people walking on the streets. “When it happens, a hate crime here, it will be your responsibility, because you have to have a stronger voice against antisemitism,” Sharabi said.

A spokesperson for Wong said that she “deeply appreciated her meeting with Eli Sharabi and thanks him for sharing his insights and experiences.” “Minister Wong has consistently condemned antisemitism and antisemitic attacks,” the spokesperson said. “In response to the horrific antisemitic terror attack at Bondi, we are further strengthening laws against those who spread antisemitism and online abuse, ensuring our education system properly responds to antisemitism, and lowering the threshold to cancel visas for those who come to Australia to spread antisemitism.” The spokesperson also conveyed Wong’s sympathies to the loved ones of the Bondi Beach shooting victims. Fox News Digital reached out to Marles’ office for comment.

Sharabi told Fox News Digital that the Bondi Beach attack reminded him of the persecution of European Jews in the 1940s. “Suddenly you feel like it’s the 1940s again, and we are in 2025, 90 years later, all these things are happening again,” he said.

On Feb. 8, 2025, Sharabi was released from Hamas captivity, 491 days after he was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri during the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. He did not know until after he was freed that his wife, Lianne, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, had been killed when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. Since his release, Sharabi has traveled the world speaking to Jewish communities, world leaders, and various audiences about his experience as a hostage, something he recounted in his book, Hostage, translated into multiple languages.

After release, Sharabi learned that there were people around the world praying for him and demanding his freedom and the freedom of other hostages. While in hospital after his release, he began to understand the global effort to secure his release and that of others, which reinforced his resolve to advocate for all hostages’ freedom. He formed a bond with Alon Ohel, another released hostage, describing their relationship as deeply meaningful and ongoing: they have spoken regularly since becoming free.

Now 11 months into freedom, Sharabi said he values every moment and uses his platform to advocate against terrorism and hatred. “First of all, I’m alive. Second, I’m free, and I’ve learned that freedom is priceless,” he said. “Every morning I wake up, I say thank you very much for what I have and for my freedom, and I can be able to choose whatever I do that day and not to ask permission from anyone to eat or drink or speak.” He added that the memory of his wife, his daughters, and his brother would accompany him for the rest of his days.

Sharabi said his plans for relocating his family to London during captivity have shifted. He now envisions a fresh start elsewhere in central Israel, away from Kibbutz Be’eri, where the memories of the attack linger. “I can’t go back to Be’eri. It’s something I need to solve with myself and with my therapist, of course. How can I get into my house again? For me, living in Be’eri, it’s not an option. I need a new place, a new restart for my life,” he said, acknowledging that the process would take time and support.

The Bondi Beach attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration and generated an outpouring of condolences and calls for stronger action against antisemitism. In Australia, authorities pledged to intensify efforts to counter antisemitic rhetoric and violence, both online and offline, while reinforcing protections for Jewish communities and educators.

Sharabi’s later public appearances included speaking engagements in support of humanitarian and emergency services organizations, such as Israel’s Magen David Adom. His experiences have kept him in the international spotlight as a survivor who survived a protracted captivity and became a vocal advocate against antisemitism and extremism.

In a broader context, the case has intensified debates about security, integration, and the boundaries of free speech in Australia and beyond. International observers note that anti-Semitic violence, while not new, has drawn heightened scrutiny in Western democracies, prompting policymakers to balance civil liberties with security and communal protections. Sharabi’s tale, intertwined with Bondi’s tragedy, underscores the ongoing risks and the importance of timely, principled leadership in addressing hate speech and hate-driven violence across societies.

Sharabi has also spoken to international bodies, including the United Nations, about hostage experiences and the humanitarian dimensions of conflict. He suggested that his personal journey—from captivity to advocacy and now to a potential new home—illustrates the complexities of healing and the responsibilities of communities and governments to safeguard against antisemitism and violence. As the world continues to grapple with terrorism and its human costs, Sharabi’s perspective adds a sober reminder of the real-world consequences of hate and the importance of proactive, principled leadership in preventing future tragedies.