'Police Hid Instead of Shooting': Rabbi Recounts Daughter's Survival in Bondi Beach Attack

A Daughter's Presence of Mind Under Fire

Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt shared the chilling ordeal of his daughter, Eliya, who was present at the Hanukkah celebration in Sydney when the deadly antisemitic terror attack began. Speaking to Kan News, the Rabbi noted Eliya's remarkable composure, maintaining contact with him in real-time as the situation unfolded.

Initially, Eliya and others mistook the sounds of gunfire for fireworks. Moments later, chaos erupted when a security guard shouted for everyone to get down on the floor. While lying prone, Eliya noticed a nearby woman bleeding profusely from her leg. When she briefly raised her head, she saw an armed terrorist standing on the bridge, with shots passing dangerously close overhead.

A deeply etched memory for Eliya was the moment a courageous civilian, later identified as Ahmad Al-Ahmad, managed to wrestle the weapon away from one of the attackers, a critical act that likely saved numerous lives.

Failing the Test: Criticism of Police Response

The Rabbi’s account turned to fierce criticism of the local police response, suggesting their actions were inadequate despite all the warning signs being present beforehand, revealing just how underprepared they were.

“The police did nothing. They hid from the terrorists instead of shooting,” Rabbi Eichenblatt asserted. He detailed a frantic moment when an Israeli friend who was also present urged the officers to engage the terrorists, telling them directly, “Shoot them. If you don’t do it, I will.” The account suggests a profound failure by the official security forces to act decisively during the crucial minutes of the assault.

Anger at Years of Inaction

Beyond the immediate police failure, Rabbi Eichenblatt expressed deep and long-standing frustration with the Australian government’s handling of antisemitism. He accused the government of years of inaction despite repeated pleas from the Jewish community.

“For two years we have been asking the government to address antisemitism,” the Rabbi stated, adding with disappointment, “The situation is only getting worse, and they are doing nothing.” This failure, he implied, created the environment that allowed such a murderous attack to occur.

Despite the harrowing events, the Rabbi emphasized the community’s resilience. “Everyone is very sad, but they understand how important it is to spread light,” he said. In an act of defiance against the terrorists, he concluded, “We lit menorahs outside in the street. It is important not to let them control us.”