Thousands of mourners gathered under tight security at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, a week since two gunmen killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and governor-general Sam Mostyn were among the dignitaries at a tearful commemoration that drew more than 10,000 people. "We have lost our innocence ... last week took our innocence," David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, told the gathering in a speech.
Also present was the father of Syrian-born Ahmed Al Ahmed, who was hailed a national hero for wrestling a gun from one of the attackers.
Mr Ossip said he saw Mr Al Ahmed earlier in the day. “Ahmed has asked me to pass on the following message to us all: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Today, I stand with you, my brothers and sisters,'” Mr Ossip said. “Thank you, Ahmed.”
The Bondi Beach attack was the most serious of a string of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, which have included attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars, since the Israel-Gaza war broke out in October 2023. It has led to proposals for tighter gun laws and recriminations over Australia's stance on the conflict.
"Like the grass here at Bondi was stained with blood, so, too, has our nation been stained," Mr Ossip said. "We have landed up in a dark place. But friends, Hanukkah teaches us that light can illuminate even the bleakest of places. A single act of courage, a single flame of hope, can give us direction and point the path forward."
The crowd booed Mr Albanese when Mr Ossip acknowledged his presence. Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who says a government led by her would reverse a decision made by Mr Albanese's Labour administration to recognise a Palestinian state, was cheered.
Mr Albanese wrote on X: "Tonight we stood together as Australians. To reject anti-Semitism. To remember the precious lives we lost one week ago. And to wrap our arms around the Jewish community who are grieving. This has been a dark week for Australia but we will never let hate divide us."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Mr Albanese over the attack on the Hanukkah celebration, saying “your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the anti-Semitic fire”.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to link widespread calls for a Palestinian state, and criticism of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, to growing incidents of anti-Semitism worldwide.
Authorities invited Australians to light a candle at home on Sunday night, the start of the eighth and final day of the Jewish festival of lights.
Images of the victims, aged 10 to 87, were projected at the commemoration. The song Waltzing Matilda was sung in honour of the youngest victim, Matilda, whose Ukrainian parents gave their daughter what they called the most Australian name they knew.
Beyond the famous beach, people around Australia showed solidarity by lighting candles and observing a minute of silence at their homes at 6.47pm, the moment the fatal shootings began last Sunday. Television and radio networks also fell silent.
The federal and New South Wales state governments declared Sunday a national Day of Reflection to mark Australia’s worst mass shooting since 35 were killed in Tasmania in 1996.
Mr Albanese had earlier announced a review of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies following last week’s attack, which was inspired by ISIS.
Indigenous leaders held a traditional smoking ceremony on Sunday morning at the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, where an impromptu memorial has grown as flowers and heartfelt messages have accumulated. The memorial is to be cleared on Monday.
Ms Mostyn, the governor-general, accepted an invitation from the National Council of Jewish Women for females of all faiths to lay a flower at the memorial on Sunday morning. Hundreds of women and girls dressed in white joined her in making the gesture.
She later delivered a message from King Charles III, saying he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful anti-Semitic attack".
One of the suspects, Naveed Akram, 24, was shot by police. He has been charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder in relation to those wounded. His father, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene.
The Health Department said 13 of those wounded at Bondi remained in Sydney hospitals on Sunday.
