Gun attack on Hanukkah celebration shocks Australia’s Jewish community
A deadly shooting during a Hanukkah event in Sydney has reignited concerns over rising antisemitism in Australia and across the world.
Australia was shaken by a deadly gun attack during a Hanukkah celebration near Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where members of the Jewish community had gathered to mark one of their most important religious holidays. The assault, described as the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured.
Hanukkah celebratıon turned into tragedy
The attack took place during a public Hanukkah event attended by families, children and elderly members of the Jewish community. Two armed men opened fire on the crowd using powerful firearms, killing at least 15 people, including a child, and injuring 38 others who remain hospitalized.
Rabbi Levi Wolff of the Central Sydney Synagogue, speaking shortly after the attack, said, “The inevitable has happened now,” reflecting long-standing fears within the Jewish community about the risk of such violence.
Antisemitic incidents at record levels
According to data from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), Australia recorded 1,654 antisemitic incidents in the 12 months to the end of September — nearly three times higher than any annual total before the Gaza war.
The ECAJ warned that anti-Jewish racism has moved from the fringes of society into the mainstream, fueled by ideological overlaps between extremist groups.
Similar trends have been reported globally. In the United States, the Anti-Defamation League documented 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, the highest number since records began in 1979. In the United Kingdom, more than 4,000 incidents were recorded in 2023, with 2024 marking the second-highest total on record.
Child among the dead, heroic act by a bystander
Among the victims was 10-year-old Matilda, who was celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with her family. She later died in hospital from her injuries. One of the deceased was also a Holocaust survivor who was killed while shielding his wife from gunfire.
During the attack, Ahmed Al Ahmed, a bystander and father of two, risked his life by tackling one of the gunmen and disarming him. Ahmed was injured and remains in hospital. Australian officials praised his actions as heroic.
Suspects and investıgatıon
Police said the suspects were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son was wounded and hospitalized. Authorities confirmed the younger suspect had previously come to the attention of Australia’s security agency but was not assessed as an immediate threat.
Investigators are examining possible extremist links, including unconfirmed reports of a black flag displayed by the attackers, though officials have said there is currently no evidence directly linking the attack to an international terror organization.
Gun laws under revıew
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that stricter gun control measures will be placed on the government’s agenda, including limits on gun licenses and ownership. Despite Australia already having some of the world’s toughest firearm laws, officials said the Bondi shooting has forced a reassessment of whether current regulations are sufficient.
A foretold fear
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the ECAJ, described the attack as the realization of long-held fears. “This is the worst fear of the Jewish community. It’s been bubbling under the surface for a long time, and now it’s actually happened,” he said.
