Public Hearing on Anti-Semitism Following Bondi Beach Shooting

On May 4, 2026, Australia commenced a public hearing to address rising anti-Semitism, particularly in light of the Bondi Beach shooting in December. This incident during a Hanukkah festival resulted in 15 fatalities and left 40 others injured.

The two-week inquiry aims to explore the prevalence of anti-Semitism across Australian society and its institutions, prompted by a marked increase in anti-Jewish sentiments and incidents over the past year.

Virginia Bell, who chairs the federal royal commission, indicated that the initial hearings will focus on understanding anti-Semitism’s nature and frequency in Australia.

A future segment, taking place later in May, will delve into the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack, in addition to issues identified in an interim report.

“The recent surge in anti-Semitism in Australia is reflected in other Western nations and is closely tied to events unfolding in the Middle East,” Bell remarked during the hearing. “It’s crucial to grasp how quickly such events can foster hostility towards Jewish Australians solely based on their identity.”

Many in the Jewish community expressed apprehension about a rise in anti-Semitic acts following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and left 251 hostages. The Australian Jewish Executive Council reported over 2,000 incidents in the subsequent year, a stark increase from fewer than 500 the year prior.

During the hearing, Jewish Australians shared their personal experiences of hatred, with some opting for anonymity due to safety concerns.

Following the Bondi Beach shooting, a wave of violence ensued, marked by arson and vandalism targeting synagogues and Jewish businesses in Sydney and Melbourne, as detailed in an investigative report.

Sheena Gutnick, who lost her father, Reuben Morrison, in the Bondi attack, stated that the rise in anti-Semitism has significantly impacted her family’s sense of safety and freedom. Prime Minister Scott Morrison intervened during the attack, throwing a brick at one of the assailants before being shot.

“Bondi is incredibly significant to our community right now,” Gutnick expressed.

She recounted an incident last year at a shopping mall where a man verbally attacked her after noticing her Star of David necklace. “I felt shocked, exposed, and in danger,” she recalled, pointing out that despite the crowd, no one stepped in to help.

“As a mother, I often think about the risks of my children witnessing anti-Semitism or being influenced by it,” she added. “It seemed as if anti-Semitism was becoming publicly acceptable.”

Holocaust survivor Peter Harasz, now 86 and originally from Hungary, voiced his fear of wearing his Star of David openly due to targeted threats against Jews in Australia.

“Current events in Australia evoke memories of our past,” Harasz noted. “For many of us who lived through the darker times, it’s a chilling reminder.”

He shared that he lost his mother to the Nazis in 1944 and survived due to the bravery of those around him as a child.

“I’ve witnessed the destructive power of hatred,” Harasz said. “What’s happening in Australia now is alarming.”

Furthermore, there are growing concerns within the Jewish community regarding safety in schools. Stephanie Schwartz, president of Mount Sinai College, explained that they have implemented intense security measures and training for potential terrorist threats.

“Walking past our school, it resembles more of a fortress than an elementary institution,” Schwartz remarked.

Witnesses pointed out that the anxiety felt in Australia is particularly harsh given the relatively small Jewish population, which has never faced such intimidation before.

“Everyone is living in constant fear,” stated Toby Raphael, vice president of Newtown Synagogue, which had been vandalized with swastikas amid ongoing anti-Semitic acts in Sydney.

In response to the shooting and ongoing threats, the federal and state governments are considering stricter gun control laws. One of the shooters, Naveed Akram, survived the incident and faces multiple charges including terrorism and murder, although he has yet to enter a plea. His father, Sajid Akram, legally owned the weapon used in the attack and was killed by police on-site.

The committee is expected to submit its final report on December 14, exactly one year after the tragic shooting.