A peaceful Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach descended into tragedy on the evening of Sunday, December 14, 2025, becoming one of the deadliest attacks in Australian history. Sixteen people were killed and more than forty injured when a father and son opened fire on a crowd of nearly 1,000 attending the Chabad of Bondi's "Hanukkah by the Sea" event. The attack prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call for sweeping new gun laws amid widespread national shock and grief.

The horror began around 6:47 PM in Archer Park, near the playground, when the two men, armed with rifles including a bolt-action firearm, fired roughly 50 rounds from a pedestrian bridge. Among the victims were a ten-year-old girl, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who was protecting his wife, and two Chabad rabbis. A Syrian-Australian man, Ahmed al Ahmed, intervened heroically, tackling one of the shooters and disarming him despite sustaining two gunshot wounds. His bravery earned praise from leaders, including New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who called him a "genuine hero."

Police neutralized 50-year-old Sajid Akram at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed remains in critical condition under guard. The pair, from Sydney's Bonnyrigg area, left behind an ISIS flag and an explosive device in their vehicle. Authorities confirmed the attack as a terrorist act targeting the Jewish community, with the younger suspect previously monitored by ASIO.

PM Albanese described the incident as a "dark day" for Australia and announced plans to strengthen the nation's already strict gun laws at the upcoming National Cabinet meeting. Proposed measures include limiting the number of firearms per license holder, mandatory periodic reviews to detect changes such as radicalization, and stricter background checks—echoing reforms from the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that banned semi-automatic weapons and significantly reduced mass shootings. Albanese noted that although the father legally owned six guns, circumstances can change, emphasizing the need to prevent future tragedies.

Bondi Beach, already marked by a stabbing incident in 2024, has since become a site of mourning, with flowers and tributes covering the area. Jewish leaders have highlighted rising antisemitism, which has intensified amid global tensions since 2023. World figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voiced solidarity, while Australian authorities maintain vigilance after raising the terror threat level to "probable" the previous year. Faith leaders from across communities called for unity, reminding the nation that such acts of hatred threaten the very heart of Australia’s multicultural identity.