Australian Jews Testify on Antisemitism in Bondi Beach Massacre Inquiry
Dozens of Australian Jews provided harrowing testimony at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, detailing a surge in targeted harassment following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. The public inquiry, established to investigate the December 2025 Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration, has revealed a pervasive climate of fear within the Jewish community. Witnesses described experiencing brazen antisemitism in mundane daily settings, including schools, public transport, and online platforms. Incidents ranged from verbal abuse and Nazi salutes to physical intimidation and vandalism such as swastikas scratched into trees. Peter Halas, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor, expressed profound alarm, noting that the current atmosphere reminds him of the 1930s and 1940s in Europe. His testimony underscores the community's growing anxiety about safety in Australia. The commission aims to address these issues of social cohesion and security in the wake of the attack, which authorities attribute to gunmen inspired by the Islamic State.
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