Mass Shooting at Sydney Hanukkah Event Results in Multiple Fatalities
On Sunday, a mass shooting occurred at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The incident resulted in the deaths of twelve individuals, including one perpetrator. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene around 6:45 p.m. local time following reports of gunfire.
Casualties and Injuries
In addition to the deceased perpetrator, a second individual identified as a gunman is in critical condition. Two police officers sustained injuries during the incident. A total of 29 people have been hospitalized. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the "Chanukah by the Sea" event, has been identified among the fatalities.
Incident Details and Official Statements
Video footage from onlookers depicted two individuals with long guns firing from a footbridge leading to the beach. One clip broadcast on Australian television showed an individual reportedly tackling and disarming one of the perpetrators.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a statement describing the shooting as a "targeted attack against Jewish Australians" and a "terrorist incident." He further stated, "An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian."
Context of Gun Violence in Australia
Mass shootings are infrequent in Australia due to stringent gun laws enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives. This incident marks the first deadly mass shooting in Australia since 2022, when six people, including two police officers, were killed in an ambush.
International Reactions and Antisemitism Concerns
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the Sydney attack to the Australian government's perceived inaction against antisemitism and its recognition of a Palestinian state. He stated that Australia's government "did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar communicated Israel's "pain and sorrow" over the attack to Australia's foreign minister, citing a "surge in antisemitism in Australia" since October 7, 2023. Prior antisemitic attacks in Australia have been reported, with Prime Minister Albanese attributing two such incidents in August to Iran and subsequently severing diplomatic ties with Tehran.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres characterized the shooting as "a heinous deadly attack on Jewish families." Israeli President Isaac Herzog has previously called for Australia to address an "enormous wave of antisemitism."