Australia experienced one of its deadliest mass shootings in history on Sunday evening at Bondi Beach, Sydney, targeting a Hanukkah celebration. The attack, which occurred at approximately 6:47 pm local time at Archer Park, was quickly declared a terrorist incident and an act of antisemitism by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

A total of 16 people died, including one of the alleged gunmen, with 15 innocent civilians confirmed dead. Of these, 14 died at the scene, and two succumbed to their injuries overnight in hospital. The victims, ranging in age from 10 to 87, included Matilda, a 10-year-old girl; British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a father of five and assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi; Rabbi Yakkov Levitan, secretary of the Sydney Beth Din; Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, 87, who shielded his wife; beloved father Tibor Weitzen, who also protected his wife; Reuven Morrison, an assistant at a synagogue; former police officer and photographer Peter Meagher; and Dan Elkayam, 27, a French Jewish national and engineer. An Israeli citizen was also among the deceased, and another Israeli was injured. Forty-two people were taken to hospital, including two police officers, with several remaining in critical or serious but stable condition. The gunmen used what police described as 'long guns' or 'military-grade weapons', and bomb disposal experts rendered safe two, possibly three, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found at the scene.

The alleged perpetrators were identified as father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram suffered critical injuries and remains in hospital under police guard. Investigations revealed Sajid Akram was a licensed firearms holder since 2015, possessing six legally owned guns, which were reportedly used in the attack. Both men were members of local gun clubs. Naveed Akram's former schoolmates described him as a 'quiet loner' and a 'nice, smart and polite kid,' expressing shock at his alleged involvement. His mother insisted he was a 'good boy' incapable of violence. It was also revealed that Naveed Akram had come to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in October 2019 due to associations, but was deemed no ongoing threat. ASIO has committed to reviewing this assessment.

Amidst the tragedy, stories of immense bravery emerged. Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Australian citizen of Syrian origin and a father of two, was hailed as a hero for tackling and disarming one of the shooters at great personal risk. Al-Ahmed sustained serious injuries, including being shot four to five times in the shoulder, arm, and hand, and is in critical but stable condition. His family, who recently arrived from Syria, stated he acted out of a humanitarian conscience, unable to bear seeing people die. Prime Minister Albanese, Premier Minns, and the US President praised his selfless courage. Other acts of heroism included volunteer surf life-savers assisting victims, and over 20,000 Australians making appointments to donate blood.

The attack prompted widespread condemnation and calls for action. PM Albanese convened an urgent national cabinet meeting, resulting in an agreement to strengthen gun laws across the country, including limits on firearm holdings and restricting licenses to Australian citizens. Messages of sympathy and condolences poured in from world figures, including King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, US President Donald Trump, and the UN Secretary General. Mourners flocked to Bondi Beach, laying flowers and tributes, often expressing grief and anger. The Albanese government faced criticism for its perceived failure to confront a surge in antisemitism across Australia, an accusation Albanese rejected, affirming his government's commitment to supporting Jewish Australians.

Israeli intelligence services speculated about possible foreign involvement, suggesting the attack might have been carried out by an Iranian-backed foreign terror cell, potentially Unit 910 of Hezbollah. They cited a pattern of terror plots and anti-Semitic incidents linked to Iran in Australia. However, Australian officials have not confirmed any foreign involvement. PM Albanese also rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that Australia's recognition of Palestine had fueled the attack. The massacre is the worst Australia has seen since the 1995 Port Arthur massacre.

The profound impact of the attack resonated deeply within the Jewish community. Rabbi Benjamin Elton, Chief Rabbi at The Great Synagogue in Sydney, expressed his devastation, noting the attack's personal toll and the community's feeling of being unsafe, especially following the Heaton Park synagogue attack in Manchester. He highlighted a significant increase in antisemitic activity in Australia prior to the Bondi events. There was also a concern within the Muslim community that such attacks could lead to unfair accusations and Islamophobia, with community leaders emphasizing Islam as a religion of peace.