Chabad, the international Hasidic Jewish movement that held the Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration, often bears the brunt of antisemitic attacks. That's because in the Jewish world, it is boldly public facing.

Flowers and an Israeli flag are laid in memory of the victims of a shooting at Bondi Beach outside the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on December 15, 2025. The son of two Texas A&M Jewish leaders was among those shot by two gunmen during a Hanukkah celebration Sunday on Bondi Beach in the Australian city of Sydney.

SYDNEY: Near the sun-soaked Sydney beach where father-and-son gunmen allegedly killed 15 people by firing into crowds at a Hanukkah festival, Jewish Australians say they feel unsafe and angry. Gunman Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police.

Police and local media reports said the shooting began while some people were attending a Hanukkah party on the beach. At least 40 people were hospitalized.

The shooting that targeted a celebration of the first night of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, has caused fear and grief but will not deter Hanukkah events, community leaders say.

Israel's ambassador to Australia has called for greater protection of Jewish people in Australia as dozens of people lined up on Tuesday at Sydney's Bondi Beach to pay tribute to the 15 victims and those wounded in the weekend's Hanukkah festival shootings.

Police said around 1,000 people had attended the Jewish celebration, which was held in a small park off the beach.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting on Bondi Beach a terrorist attack targeting a Hanukkah celebration. One suspect was killed and another was in custody, investigators said.