Bondi Beach Pogrom
Foreign Minister Blames Australian Government for Bondi Beach Massacre: "There Were Signs"
Multiple casualties and tens of injured at Bondi Beach Chanuka candle lighting lead to accusations from Foreign Minister Sa'ar. "These are the results of unchecked antisemitic incitement in Australia."
Israel’s foreign minister on Sunday accused the Australian government of ignoring repeated warnings about rising antisemitism, following a mass shooting at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney that left at least 10 people dead.
“I am shocked by the murderous shooting attack at a Chanukah event in Sydney,” the foreign minister said. “These are the results of unchecked antisemitic incitement in Australia over the past two years, including calls to ‘Globalize the Intifada’ that have now turned into deadly violence. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must wake up.”
The comments came after two gunmen opened fire at an outdoor Chanukah event organized by Chabad in Sydney’s Bondi Beach area. The attackers were later apprehended by police. Dozens of people were wounded, according to emergency responders, and the event took place shortly before the lighting of the first Chanukah candle.
The foreign minister linked the attack to a broader pattern of antisemitic incidents across Australia, particularly since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. In recent months, Jewish institutions in several cities have been vandalized, including synagogues and schools defaced with swastikas, threats made against Jewish community leaders, and repeated harassment at public gatherings and protests. Jewish organizations have warned that incitement at rallies and online has increasingly translated into real-world violence.
Community members at the Sydney event told Israeli media that security was minimal and that police response was slow, an issue that has previously been raised by Jewish leaders requesting increased protection for religious events.
Australian authorities said the investigation into the attack is ongoing. No official response had yet been issued addressing the foreign minister’s criticism.
The shooting marks one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in Australia’s history and has intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of antisemitism and public safety for Jewish communities.