Horrific Attack
Prominent Advocate Arsen Ostrovsky Shot at Hanukkah Party on Bondi Beach
Arsen Ostrovsky, a prominent Sydney human rights lawyer and pro-Israel advocate, was wounded in a deadly antisemitic terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach that left at least 12 dead and shocked Australia.
Arsen Ostrovsky, a well-known Sydney-based international human rights lawyer and vocal pro-Israel advocate, was injured in Sunday evening's deadly terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
Ostrovsky, who was attending the "Chanukah by the Sea" event organized by Chabad of Bondi with his family, sustained a head injury during the shooting. Photos circulating on social media and in news reports show him with a bloodied face and bandaged head shortly after the attack.
In interviews given to Australian media, including 9News, while still visibly shaken and wounded, Ostrovsky described the scene as reminiscent of the October 7 massacre in Israel, stating he never imagined such horror could occur in Australia.
He spoke to Channel 9 News:
I was here with my family. It was a Hanukkah celebration. There were hundreds of people, there were children, there were elderly families enjoying themselves, children, kids at a festival, um, playing. And then all of a sudden it's absolute chaos. There's guns, fire everywhere, people ducking. It was absolute chaos.
We didn't know what was happening, where the gunfire was coming from. I saw blood gushing in front of me. I saw people hit so people fall to the ground. My only concern was, where are my kids? Where are my kids? Where's my wife? Where's my family? I survived October 7th. I lived in Israel the last 13 years.
We came here only two weeks ago to to work with the Jewish community, to fight antisemitism, to fight this blood thirsty ravaging hatred. That's why you're here. That's, that's why I'm here. We've lived through worse. We're gonna get through this and we're gonna get the bastards that did this.
Despite his injury, Ostrovsky later posted on social media confirming he survived and is recovering, defiantly declaring: "These bastards won't win."
The attack, which unfolded around 6:40 p.m. near North Bondi, claimed at least 12 lives, including one of the gunmen and left dozens wounded.
Among the deceased was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary. Two attackers armed with shotguns opened fire on the crowd during the family-friendly public menorah lighting on the first night of Hanukkah.A heroic bystander tackled and disarmed one of the shooters in footage that has gone viral, while armed New South Wales Police neutralized the threat, killing one gunman and critically injuring the second, who is now in custody.
Jewish community leaders, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, have condemned the incident as a targeted antisemitic terrorist attack. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes as "shocking and distressing," pledging full support for the investigation.
Ostrovsky, a frequent commentator on antisemitism and Middle East affairs who contributes to outlets such as The Jerusalem Post and appears regularly in international media, has long warned of rising anti-Jewish hatred in Australia, particularly in Sydney's eastern suburbs following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
This remains a developing story. Authorities continue to investigate motives and any potential links to extremist ideologies.
Our thoughts are with all victims, their families, and the Australian Jewish community during this devastating time.