On the evening of December 14, 2025, the tranquil sands of Sydney’s Bondi Beach were shattered by violence as two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 11 people and injuring 29 others—including two police officers. The attack, which unfolded just after 6:45 p.m. local time, was immediately designated a terrorism event by the New South Wales Police Force and has sent shockwaves through Australia and the global Jewish community.
The event, organized by Chabad for the first night of Hanukkah and attended by hundreds, was meant to be a joyful gathering. Instead, it became the site of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. According to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed these sentiments, calling the massacre “an act of evil antisemitism.” In a somber statement, he said, “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.” Albanese also described the scenes at Bondi as “shocking and distressing,” and assured the public that police and emergency responders were working tirelessly to save lives.
The chaos began as gunfire erupted along the popular waterfront. Videos verified by ABC News captured hundreds of beachgoers fleeing in terror, abandoning their belongings as shots rang out. One particularly dramatic moment was caught on camera: a bystander, concealed behind a car, rushed forward to tackle and disarm one of the alleged shooters. The man, who was later hospitalized for his injuries, has been hailed as a “genuine hero” by Premier Minns.
Police responded rapidly, urging the public to avoid the area and obey all instructions. Photos from the scene showed a heavy police presence, with emergency workers transporting the wounded on stretchers. The operation was ongoing for hours, with officers examining suspicious items—including several improvised explosive devices found in one suspect’s car, according to NPR.
By the end of the night, one suspect had been killed and the second was in critical condition under police custody. Authorities confirmed that one of the gunmen was known to security services, though there had been no specific threat prior to the attack. The New South Wales Police Force emphasized that the investigation was “massive” and “complex,” with FBI Director Kash Patel noting that American officials were in contact with their Australian counterparts.
Among the dead was Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the Hanukkah event. Chabad confirmed his death in a statement, while the Australian Jewish Association called for prayers for the community. “Please pray for the Australian Jewish community,” the organization said, underlining the deep pain felt not only in Australia, but among Jews worldwide.
International leaders quickly voiced their outrage and condolences. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as a “terrorist attack” on the Jewish community, stating, “At these very moments, 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 Chanukah on Bondi Beach.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi decried the “ghastly terrorist attack,” and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the events “appalling.” The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted that “Antisemitism has no place in this world.” In response, London police announced increased security at Jewish sites.
The massacre comes amid a troubling surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia. The government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, reported in July that assaults, vandalism, threats, and intimidation targeting Jews had more than tripled in the year following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Throughout the past summer, synagogues and cars were torched, businesses and homes were graffitied, and Jews were attacked in Sydney and Melbourne—the cities where 85% of Australia’s Jewish population resides. The authorities did not link those earlier incidents directly to the Bondi Beach shooting, but the broader context of rising hate is impossible to ignore.
Sussan Ley, the opposition leader in Australia’s parliament, described the shooting as “hateful violence striking at the heart of an iconic Australian community.” She added, “This attack occurred as our Jewish community came together at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration. This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future, severed by hate.”
The Jewish community’s pain is profound and palpable. A statement circulated among Jewish organizations emphasized the chilling effect of such violence: “Let’s be clear, our Jewish siblings were murdered in Australia for the simple fact of being Jewish. This is antisemitism, plain and simple. Our Jewish community and people of conscience everywhere stand together against the dramatic uptick in anti-Jewish hate.”
Yet, even in the face of tragedy, there is resolve. The statement continued, “Our Jewish community will not go into hiding. We are proud Jews and will remain so even as we make the security of our Jewish community a primary obligation.” It referenced the tradition of placing the Hanukkah menorah in a window for all to see, but also the caution advised in times of danger—a reality now felt by many Australian Jews.
Memorial candles were lit alongside Hanukkah candles this year, as families and friends mourned those lost. The community drew parallels to the 1993 attack in Billings, Montana, when a brick was thrown through a window displaying a menorah. The response then was one of unity, as neighbors—Jewish and not—placed images of menorahs in their windows to declare, “Not in our town.” Many in Sydney and beyond now yearn for similar solidarity.
Australia, a nation of 28 million with about 117,000 Jews, is no stranger to the impact of mass shootings. The last major massacre, in Port Arthur in 1996, led to sweeping gun reforms. Since then, such violence has been rare, making the Bondi Beach tragedy all the more shocking. As police continue their investigation and the community begins to heal, the hope is that Australians—of all backgrounds—will come together to reject hate and reaffirm the values of safety, inclusion, and peace.
