Here we go again. Another Jewish holiday. Another celebration meant for families, children, grandparents, and faith. And once again, it ends in blood, panic, and body bags — this time on the sand of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. At least 15 people are dead, dozens more wounded, and the only thing more horrifying than the attack itself is how familiar this all feels.
Authorities say terrorists opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration attended by roughly 2,000 people. Let that sink in. A public beach. A religious holiday. Kids everywhere. Police say the attackers deliberately targeted the Jewish community, used firearms, and even had improvised explosive devices nearby. One attacker was killed at the scene, another is in critical condition, and one of the alleged shooters has been identified as Naveed Akram, according to Australian media citing senior law enforcement officials.
And yes, let’s be very clear — this wasn’t random. This wasn’t a crime of opportunity. This wasn’t “senseless violence” in the way politicians love to water things down. This was a targeted, antisemitic terrorist attack carried out during the first night of Hanukkah. Families lighting candles ended up diving for cover. Wounded victims were reportedly carried away on surfboards because there weren’t enough stretchers. Children were caught under fire. Bodies lay on the sand.
Video footage shows a prolonged shootout between the terrorists and police. In one moment that should haunt every government official who claims citizens don’t need to defend themselves, an unarmed civilian can be seen wrestling a gun away from one of the attackers as shots are still ringing out. That man didn’t wait for a press conference. He acted.
World leaders responded quickly. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack as vile and antisemitic. Israeli President Chaim Herzog spoke of an entire nation holding its breath. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed zero tolerance for terrorism. The message from outside Australia was unmistakable: this was terrorism, and it was antisemitic.
And then there was Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
His initial statement somehow managed to avoid mentioning Jews. Or Hanukkah. Or antisemitism. In the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack since Hamas’s October 7 massacre, the prime minister of the country where it happened couldn’t bring himself to name the target. That omission didn’t go unnoticed.
The Prime Minister of Australia says the true threat is “right-wing extremist groups” after the Islamic terrorist attack yesterday.
Actually absurd.
pic.twitter.com/NvID9xieTJ— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 15, 2025
Opposition leader Peter Dutton accused Albanese of selling out the Jewish community for political convenience. And that criticism didn’t come out of thin air. Albanese has repeatedly criticized Israel and even broke with the United States at the United Nations to support an anti-Israel resolution calling for withdrawal from so-called “occupied” territories. Context matters, especially when Jewish blood is spilled.
Premier of New South Wales calls for more gun-control after the t*rrorist attack in Australia
Australia already has strict gun laws.
The t*rrorists were on the police’s radar for years.Defenseless victims took gunfire for 20 minutes before police engaged.
How about just stop… pic.twitter.com/cidgYRqB9P
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 15, 2025
This massacre didn’t happen in a vacuum. Since October 7, antisemitism across Australia has surged. Synagogues firebombed. Jewish homes vandalized. Threats coming from healthcare workers. Campus intimidation. Intelligence reports allegedly linking some attacks to foreign-backed Islamist networks. And yet, time and again, officials hesitate, downplay, or delay naming the ideology driving it.
Among the victims was Arsen Ostrovsky, a global advocate against antisemitism who had just moved from Israel to Australia two weeks earlier. He described scenes of blood everywhere, people collapsing, and his frantic search for his children in the chaos. He said the last time he saw anything like it was October 7 in Israel — and he never imagined seeing it in Australia.
That’s the part everyone should be choking on. This wasn’t Israel. This wasn’t a war zone. This was Australia. A beach. A holiday celebration.
Authorities are reportedly raiding the home of Naveed Akram as the investigation continues. Charges and final determinations will come later. But the pattern is already painfully clear, whether politicians want to admit it or not.
If governments keep refusing to name antisemitism when it’s staring them in the face, keep refusing to confront extremist ideology, and keep choosing political comfort over public safety, these attacks won’t stop. They’ll spread. And candlelight vigils won’t bring anyone back.
TRUMP: “I want to pay my respects to the people no longer with us. Brown University, 9 injured – 2 looking down on us from Heaven.”
“Australia was an obvious antisemitic attack.”
“We had an attack in Syria. 3 patriots terminated by Isis.”
“Rough day.” pic.twitter.com/iJMQYx2PRT
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) December 14, 2025
Fifteen people are dead for celebrating Hanukkah on a beach. If that doesn’t disgust you, you’re not paying attention.
