A week after the deadly Hannukah attack on Bondi Beach, more than 10,000 mourners gathered under tight police security on Sunday evening to honor the 15 people killed in the shooting.
The Memorial Gathering
The crowd assembled on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, a place that had become a symbol of unity and remembrance. Police officers armed with rifles stood watch while a memorial wall at the Bondi Pavilion collected flowers and heartfelt messages. Indigenous leaders led a traditional smoking ceremony in the morning, and the memorial was slated for removal the following day.
Dignitaries and Public Sentiment
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, former Prime Ministers John Howard and Scott Morrison, and Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who represents King Charles III, were among the dignitaries in attendance. The Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip addressed the crowd, stating, “This has to be the nadir of antisemitism in our country,” and added, “This has to be the moment when light starts to eclipse the darkness.” When Ossip acknowledged Albanese’s presence, the crowd booed the Prime Minister. In contrast, opposition leader Sussan Ley, who had warned that a conservative government under her leadership would reverse the Labor Party’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, received cheers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Albanese, saying, “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.” Netanyahu has linked calls for a Palestinian state and criticism of Israel’s Gaza offensive to rising antisemitism worldwide.
National Day of Reflection
The federal and New South Wales governments declared Sunday a national Day of Reflection, marking Australia’s worst mass shooting since the 1996 Tasmania incident that killed 35 people. Television and radio networks across the country fell silent, and a minute of silence was observed at 6:47 p.m. to remember the moment the massacre unfolded. Flags flew at half-staff on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and government buildings, which were lit in yellow to show solidarity with the Jewish community.
Images of the victims, aged 10 to 87, were projected at the commemoration. The youngest victim’s Ukrainian parents sang “Waltzing Matilda” in honor of her, describing her Australian-born name as the most Australian they knew.
Heroes and Memorials
Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-born immigrant who wrestled a shotgun from one of the gunmen before being shot, became a widely acclaimed hero. From his hospital bed, he sent a message of support: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Today I stand with you, my brothers and sisters.” His father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, was invited to light a candle on the menorah during the final night of Hannukah.
The governor-general accepted an invitation from the National Council of Jewish Women for women of all faiths to lay a flower at the memorial. Hundreds of women and girls dressed in white joined the gesture. Later, he delivered a message from the British monarch, saying that the king and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic attack on Jewish people the Hannukah celebration on Bondi Beach.”
Security and Legal Response
One of the suspects, Naveed Akram, 24, was shot by police and charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder. His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was also shot dead by police at the scene. The Health Department reported that 13 of the wounded remained in Sydney hospitals on Sunday.
Police had bolstered security around Bondi, including officers armed with rifles. The first responders last week had been armed only with Glock pistols, which were criticized for lacking the lethal range of the assailants’ shotguns and rifles. Two police officers were critically wounded.
Political and Legislative Actions
A day after the attack, an emergency meeting of federal and state leaders committed to tightening national gun laws. Measures include limiting the number of guns an individual can own. Sajid Akram legally owned six guns, including the two shotguns and two bolt-action rifles used at Bondi.
The New South Wales state parliament will sit on Monday to debate new hate-speech and gun draft laws. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Alex Ryvchin said the victims’ families felt “tragically, unforgivably let down” by government failures to combat a growth in antisemitism in Australia since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- More than 10,000 people gathered at Bondi Beach to honor 15 victims of a Hannukah massacre.
- Prime Minister Albanese and other dignitaries were present; the crowd booed Albanese but cheered opposition leader Ley.
- Security was tightened; suspect Naveed Akram was shot and charged with 15 murders; his father Sajid Akram was killed.
- The federal and state governments declared a national Day of Reflection and pledged to tighten gun laws.
The commemoration underscored the national grief and the urgent call for stronger measures against antisemitism and mass violence.
