Terror Attack On Australian Hanukkah Celebration Leaves 11 Dead, Dozens Wounded

A terrorist attack targeting a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, left at least 11 people dead and dozens more wounded, according to authorities, marking what officials described as the deadliest antisemitic attack since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel.

The attack occurred as roughly 2,000 people gathered on the beach to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Police said the assault was a deliberate attack on the Jewish community and involved at least two gunmen. Improvised explosive devices were also discovered in the surrounding area. One attacker was killed during the incident, while another remains in critical condition.

“One of the alleged shooters in the deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney was Naveed Akram, a man from the city’s south-west,” ABC News reported, citing a senior law enforcement official.

Video footage from the scene shows an extended shootout between the attackers and police. In one clip, an unarmed civilian is seen confronting one of the gunmen and wrestling the weapon away as shots were fired toward the celebration.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with bodies on the sand, blood everywhere, and wounded victims being carried on surfboards due to a lack of stretchers. The event was packed with families and children when the shooting began.

World leaders swiftly condemned the attack.

“The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”

Israeli President Chaim Herzog also responded, calling the attack “vile” and expressing solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

“At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney have been attacked by vile terrorists as they lit the first candle of Chanukah,” Herzog said. “The heart of the entire nation of Israel beats with them as we pray for the wounded and mourn those who were killed.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement condemning the attack and offering condolences to the families of the victims, saying India stands in solidarity with Australia and maintains zero tolerance for terrorism.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism after his initial response failed to mention the Jewish identity of the victims or the Hanukkah celebration itself. Opposition leader Peter Dutton accused Albanese of abandoning the Jewish community for political gain.

The attack comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia since October 7, including synagogue firebombings, threats against Jewish leaders, harassment on university campuses, and intimidation by healthcare workers. Intelligence reporting has linked some incidents to foreign-backed Islamist networks, though critics say the government has been slow to assign blame.

Among those wounded was Arsen Ostrovsky, a prominent international advocate against antisemitism who recently relocated to Australia from Israel.

“I saw blood gushing everywhere,” Ostrovsky said in a local interview. “People were falling to the ground. My only thought was, ‘Where are my kids? Where is my wife?’”

“I lived in Israel for 13 years,” he added. “I never imagined I would witness something like October 7 again — and certainly not in Australia.”

Authorities have identified one attacker as Naveed Akram and are reportedly conducting raids connected to the investigation as the probe continues.