On the evening of December 13, 2025, Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach—usually a symbol of sun, surf, and celebration—was transformed into a scene of horror. Two gunmen, identified as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son, opened fire on a crowd gathered for a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. The attack, which authorities quickly labeled an act of antisemitic terrorism, was the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades and has left the nation reeling, searching for answers and unity in the face of tragedy.
The event, Chanukah by the Sea, was organized by the local Chabad group and drew hundreds of people—Jews and non-Jews alike—for a festive evening of music, face painting, a petting zoo, and the lighting of a giant menorah. As dusk settled and the celebration was in full swing, the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by gunfire at around 6:45 p.m. According to The Associated Press, the shooters targeted the Jewish gathering specifically, with one witness recalling that bystanders not involved in the event were ushered away before the attack began.
In the chaos that followed, beachgoers in bathing suits ran for their lives, abandoning their belongings as gunshots echoed across the sand. Video footage captured the panic—people screaming, crying, and desperately seeking safety. One particularly dramatic clip showed a bystander, later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, courageously tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called him a "genuine hero," stating, "That man is a genuine hero, and I've got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery." His actions, broadcast across Australian television and social media, have become a symbol of hope amid the devastation.
Emergency services responded quickly, and a police officer who happened to be nearby engaged the attackers in a shootout that lasted nearly ten minutes. One gunman was shot dead at the scene, while the other was wounded and taken into custody. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon reported that the deceased gunman was known to security services, but there had been no prior indication of a planned attack.
The toll of the massacre has been staggering. Victims ranged in age from a child of just 10 to an elderly person of 87. Among the dead was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event, who had served the community for 18 years. Chabad confirmed his death, sharing his recent words: "In the face of darkness, the way forward is to ‘be more Jewish, act more Jewish and appear more Jewish.’" The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of an Israeli citizen, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced that French citizen Dan Elkayam was also among those killed. Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman was identified as a victim by his wife, Larisa, who recounted the horror to The Australian: "He came to Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah. For us, it was always a very, very good celebration for many, many years." She added, "His body is still there, and I am sitting there and don’t know what I have to do." At least 42 others were hospitalized, several in critical condition, as of the following morning.
Authorities also discovered two rudimentary improvised explosive devices at the scene, which bomb disposal experts rendered safe. Police later found that the deceased gunman had six firearms at his residence, raising urgent questions about how such weapons were acquired in a country renowned for its strict gun control laws. Mass shootings are exceptionally rare in Australia, largely due to sweeping reforms enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives and led to a national crackdown on firearm ownership.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation the next day, calling the massacre "an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores." He added, "It is forever tarnished by what has occurred." Albanese convened a meeting of the country’s national security council and pledged that the violence would be met with unity: "An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian." Yet, some political opponents and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Australian government of not doing enough to prevent such horrors. Netanyahu stated, "Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism," referencing Canberra’s recent recognition of Palestinian statehood. He added, "Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders are silent and do not act."
The massacre comes amid a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia. According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, antisemitic incidents reached nearly five times the annual average in the year following October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza began. Synagogues and Jewish businesses in Sydney and Melbourne have been targeted by arson and vandalism, and Jewish leaders from around the globe recently convened in Sydney to call for urgent action. Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial center, has repeatedly warned Australian leaders about the dangers of unchecked antisemitism, urging robust educational initiatives to combat hatred.
Muslim groups in Australia swiftly condemned the attack. In a joint statement, the Australian National Imams Council and the Council of Imams NSW said, "These acts of violence and crimes have no place in our society. Those responsible must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the law." They extended their prayers to the victims and all affected by the traumatic events.
The international response has been one of shock and solidarity. King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were "appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack." United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his horror, stating that his "heart is with the Jewish community worldwide." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack, posting on X, "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." President Donald Trump, speaking through Fox News, encouraged people celebrating Hanukkah to "celebrate proudly, and they should be proud of who you are." Major U.S. cities responded by increasing police presence at synagogues in the wake of the shooting.
As Australia mourns the victims and grapples with the implications of this tragedy, questions abound about how such violence could erupt in a nation that prides itself on inclusivity and safety. Premier Minns has already signaled that changes to gun laws are likely. For now, Bondi Beach is left to reckon with a new reality—one where the joyous sounds of celebration have been replaced, at least temporarily, by the solemn echoes of loss and the urgent call for unity and vigilance.
