Sydney (Australia): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday proposed sweeping changes to the country’s gun laws after a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach killed at least 15 people, marking the nation’s deadliest shooting in nearly three decades.
The attack, which took place on Sunday evening during a beachfront event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, left at least 38 people injured. Among the dead were a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. Authorities described the violence as an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of Australia’s social fabric.
Albanese said the federal government was prepared to act decisively, including imposing limits on the number of firearms a licensed individual can own. His announcement followed police confirmation that the older of the two attackers, a 50-year-old man who carried out the assault alongside his son, had legally acquired six firearms under an existing gun licence.
“The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary, and that includes the need for tougher gun laws,” Albanese told reporters. He stressed that gun licences should not be treated as permanent, noting that individuals can be radicalised over time and circumstances can change.
The prime minister planned to present his proposals later on Monday to a national cabinet meeting involving state and territory leaders, acknowledging that while some reforms fall under federal jurisdiction, others would require state legislation. He said coordination across governments was essential to ensure a unified national response.
Police said the father, who was shot dead at the scene, held a licence allowing him to possess rifles or shotguns for approved purposes such as recreational hunting or target shooting. Self-defence is not recognised as a valid reason for gun ownership under Australian law. He had migrated to Australia on a student visa in 1998 and was a legal resident at the time of his death.
His 24-year-old son, an Australian citizen, was shot and wounded and remains hospitalised. Authorities said he may face criminal charges once his condition stabilises.
The attack unfolded as thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic public spaces, to enjoy the summer evening. The Chanukah by the Sea event included food stalls, children’s activities and family celebrations when the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately.
On Monday, mourners gathered near the site to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victims. Attention also focused on a bystander, later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 42-year-old fruit shop owner and father of two, who was filmed tackling and disarming one of the attackers. He was shot in the shoulder by the second gunman but survived. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke publicly acknowledged his bravery.
The massacre has intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of rising antisemitism in Australia. Jewish leaders and survivors questioned why the attackers were not detected earlier, amid a surge in antisemitic incidents over the past year.
“There’s been a heap of inaction,” said Lawrence Stand, whose 12-year-old daughter was attending a nearby Bar Mitzvah celebration when the shooting occurred. He said warnings about rising threats had not been adequately addressed.
Alex Ryvchin, spokesperson for the Australian Council of Executive Jewry, said serious questions needed to be answered about how the attack was allowed to happen, describing the incident as a profound failure of the state’s duty to protect its citizens.
Australia, home to around 117,000 Jews, has witnessed a wave of antisemitic attacks in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne over the past year, including arson, vandalism and physical assaults. The federal government has responded by appointing a special envoy on antisemitism, strengthening legislation and increasing security funding for Jewish schools and places of worship.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had previously warned Australian leaders about the dangers of failing to act against antisemitism, linking the issue to Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Albanese rejected suggestions that international politics justified violence, reiterating that there is no place for antisemitism in Australia.
The prime minister said the tragedy should become a moment of national unity, urging Australians to stand with the country’s Jewish community and reaffirm shared values of tolerance and safety.
