Australians observed a minute’s silence on Sunday to commemorate the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, as part of a nationwide day of reflection held one week after the deadly shooting.
The attack took place during an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, when two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people. Among the dead were a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi and a Holocaust survivor.
As dusk fell over Sydney, crowds gathered at Bondi Beach, where silence was held at 18:47 local time – the precise moment authorities first received reports of gunfire a week earlier. The memorial took place amid heightened security, with armed police guarding restricted areas and a patrol boat positioned offshore, a level of protection rarely seen at public events in Australia.
Many in attendance wore kippas or carried Australian flags as they listened to speeches following the silence. Yellow balloons were released in memory of the youngest victim, Matilda, affectionately known as “Matilda Bee”. The ceremony later included a rendition of Waltzing Matilda, the song after which she was named.
Another poignant moment came when the crowd chanted the name of Chaya, a 14-year-old who was injured while shielding other children during the attack. Appearing on stage with crutches, she urged those present to “be the light in a field of darkness”.
The memorial concluded with the lighting of a menorah, a ritual that had been interrupted by the attack the previous week.
Commemorations extended beyond Sydney, with households across Australia placing candles in windows as a symbol of “light over darkness”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s arrival at the Bondi event was met with boos and angry shouts, reflecting frustration within Australia’s Jewish community over what they see as insufficient government action amid a rise in antisemitic incidents. At least one individual was restrained by police after approaching the prime minister, who appeared visibly unsettled by the hostile reception.
Community leaders have said the attack, while devastating, came after months of escalating antisemitic abuse following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza. Many believe stronger preventive measures could have averted the tragedy.
Albanese has acknowledged the criticism, stating that he accepts responsibility “for my part as prime minister”. He has also faced accusations from critics of taking a stance more sympathetic to Palestinians, particularly after his government moved earlier this year to recognise a Palestinian state.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, accused Albanese and other leaders who have recognised Palestine of emboldening Hamas, saying Australia had failed to curb the spread of antisemitism.
In contrast, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was warmly received at the memorial. He has been praised for quickly acknowledging government failures and attending several victims’ funerals.
“We are deeply sorry,” Minns told the crowd. “The foremost duty of any government is to protect its people – and last week, we failed.”
He described the shooting as exposing “a deep current of antisemitic hatred” that must be confronted.
David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, was met with applause as he called for a Royal Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The suspected gunman, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and a terrorism-related charge. His father was among those killed.
In the days following the attack, Albanese announced new measures targeting hate speech and incitement to violence, along with a review of policing and intelligence agencies. He also pledged reforms to gun laws and launched a national gun buyback programme, the largest since the Port Arthur massacre of 1996.
