Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday amounted to an attack on the Jewish community.
“At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach,” Herzog said, according to a statement from his office in Jerusalem.
“Our hearts go out to them,” Herzog said. “The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives.”
The president said Israel had repeatedly called for action to confront what he described as a “enormous wave” of anti-Semitism affecting Australian society.
According to initial reports, a Jewish Hanukkah event was the target of the evening attack on the iconic beach in eastern Sydeny. Sunday marks the first day of Hanukkah.
Australian media reported that dozens of shots were fired and that there were multiple casualties.
Law enforcement officials have said that two people are in custody but have not given any further details on the nature of the attack, the suspects or the victims.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, a global surge in anti-Semitism has been observed, including attacks on Jews and synagogues, with criticism of Israel in some cases spilling over into hatred of Jews.