Community Leaders Worldwide Condemn Deadly Bondi Attack

Community and faith leaders from around the world have issued strong and unified condemnations following the deadly attack on a Hanukkah gathering in Bondi, Sydney, describing the violence as an assault not only on the Jewish community but on the principles of coexistence and religious freedom.

Two men, believed to be a father and son, opened fire on a group of people celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of fifteen people. Twenty-seven people were also hospitalised.

Arsen Ostrovsky, an Australian Jewish official who was injured in the attack, spoke to the media shortly afterwards with his head wrapped in bandages. He said that “I never thought I would see such scenes in my lifetime in Australia, on Bondi Beach.”

The National Imams Council condemned the attack as a “horrific act of violence” and stressed that such crimes have “no place in Islam or in Australian society.” The Council extended condolences to the victims and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, calling on Australians to “stand together against hatred and extremism.”

The Lebanese Muslim Association likewise denounced the attack “in the strongest terms,” stating that violence against innocent people is “morally indefensible,” and urging unity, compassion, and social cohesion in the face of attempts to divide communities.

Jewish communal organisations responded with grief and resolve. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) said, “We need decisive leadership and action now to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism from Australia’s public life.” The World Jewish Congress (WJC) condemned the violence and warned that “no community should ever fear coming together to celebrate its faith,” adding, “We will continue to stand proudly, united against all forms of violence and hate, and in unwavering solidarity with Jewish communities everywhere.”

Christian organisations also spoke out. Christians United for Israel (CUFI) said it was “standing in prayer and solidarity with the Jewish community of Australia,” while the World Council of Churches (WCC) said, “Such violent antisemitism constitutes a gross violation of basic human rights and cannot be tolerated in any democratic society.”

From South Africa, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) issued a statement condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the victims’ families, reiterating that “there is no justification for terrorism or attacks on any group based on faith or identity.” The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa similarly condemned the attack, stating that “the sanctity of human life occupies a central position in Islamic jurisprudence and moral theology. Classical sources affirm that the intentional taking of a single life constitutes an offense of such gravity that it is equated with the killing of all humanity, an aphorism that acknowledges the intrinsic value of each person and the broader social order.”

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies expressed solidarity with Australian Jewry, stating that the attack underscored the need for a coordinated global response to rising antisemitism.

Political parties in South Africa also condemned the attack, including the African Christian Democratic Party, Freedom Front Plus, and Build One South Africa.

The South African Zionist Federation said, “The attack in Sydney did not occur in isolation. It unfolded within a global climate where antisemitism is increasingly normalised, where Zionism is relentlessly demonised, and where calls to ‘globalise the intifada’ are shouted openly, defended by activists, and excused by political leaders. That language carries real meaning. It gives permission for violence against Jews wherever they gather, pray, or celebrate their identity.”

Loay Al Shariff, a Muslim peace activist from the United Arab Emirates, warned that Australia had been lax in dealing with problems of incitement against the Jewish community and urged the government to take the threat of Islamist groups seriously.