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Follow our live coverage of the Bondi Beach shooting.
World leaders have condemned the mass shooting attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with Jewish politicians calling for the government to take greater action to combat antisemitism and protect their community.
At least 12 people are dead, including one of the shooters, and 12 injured, two of whom are police officers, after several men opened fire at a packed crowd at the beach. Sunday marked the first evening of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday, and the shooters were seen close to the Chanukah by the Sea festival, where Jewish Sydneysiders had gathered to celebrate the holiday.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said a wave of antisemitism was plaguing Australian society.Credit: Getty Images
Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced the shooting as a “cruel” attack on Jews.
“Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah,” Herzog said at an event at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported.
“We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government to seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.
“Our hearts go out to them … we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them, and we pray for those who lost their lives.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the shooting as “deeply distressing”.
“The United Kingdom sends our thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the appalling attack in Bondi Beach. I’m being kept updated on the developing situation,” he posted on X.
Less than an hour earlier, Starmer had sent his “warmest wishes” to Jewish communities around the world coming together to celebrate Chanukah.
UK Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Heartbreaking scenes emerging from Bondi Beach of what looks like another despicable terrorist atrocity.”
United States ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the attack as “horrific”, while New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon said he was “shocked by the distressing scenes” at a place that Kiwis visited every day.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his horror at the events at Bondi Beach.
“I am horrified and condemn today’s heinous, deadly attack on Jewish families gathered in Sydney to celebrate Hannukah,” he said on his official X account.
“My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hannukah, a festival celebrating the miracle of peace and light vanquishing darkness.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was “appalled” by the attack, which he suggested was the result of rising antisemitism in Australia over the past two years.
“The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses!” Saar posted on X.
Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said he was horrified by what he called a terrorist attack targeting Jewish families.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Jewish community in Australia. Boulder. Manchester. Washington. And now Sydney. The names of more and more cities around the world are becoming synonymous with deadly attacks against Jews. Stopping these horrors requires immediate, decisive intervention at all levels. Enough is enough,” Lapid posted on X.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said he was was “in shock from this mass murder, and from the Australian government’s helplessness in preventing it”.
“Since October 7, we have witnessed a series of actions against the Jewish community and its institutions, a series that only intensified,” Maimon told Israel’s Channel 12 news.
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Maimon is in Israel and is headed back to Australia, the Times of Israel reported. His tenure, which was dominated by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, acrimony over the war in Gaza and bursts of outright hostility between the Netanyahu and Albanese governments, is scheduled to end in mid-January.
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the attack was a “moment of grief, and time for accountability”.
Bennett said he had spoken to several Jewish community leaders, who were “fearful and outraged”.
“For months, they warned of rising antisemitism. The writing was on the wall. It was ignored. This violence did not come out of nowhere. When antisemitic hatred is tolerated and threats are downplayed, attacks become inevitable,” he posted on X.
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Bennett called on the federal government to take “immediate, decisive action to protect Jewish communities and confront antisemitism as the serious threat it is”.
“Statements of sympathy are no longer enough. Jews should not have to fear for their lives anywhere, including Australia,” he said.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the shooting as “horrendous”, adding “the threat is everywhere”.
More to come
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