WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An extensive Australian inquiry into antisemitism commenced hearings on Monday, following a tragic incident where a mass shooting occurred at a Hanukkah celebration, leaving fifteen people dead. The attack, which took place in December 2025 at Bondi Beach, was carried out by father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, who allegedly used legally owned firearms despite Australia’s stringent gun control laws. This horrifying event was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State group and was preceded by a surge of antisemitic crimes across the nation.
The Royal Commission, the highest form of inquiry in Australia, has been established to investigate the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australian society and institutions. This two-week sitting in Sydney is the first of several hearings scheduled to address the growing concern over antisemitism, which has escalated in response to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Commissioner Virginia Bell emphasized the disturbing trend of hostility toward Jewish Australians, underscoring the need for society to grasp how quickly international events can provoke local animosities.
During the first day of the hearings, testimonies were presented by Jewish Australians recounting their experiences of hatred and fear. Several witnesses chose to speak under pseudonyms to protect their identities. Sheina Gutnick, the daughter of Reuven Morrison—one of the individuals killed in the Bondi shooting—shared her harrowing experience of being verbally attacked in a shopping mall for wearing a Star of David necklace. Gutnick conveyed feelings of shock and vulnerability, highlighting a societal failure to intervene during such incidents.
Gutnick's father heroically attempted to confront one of the gunmen before losing his life. The witnesses collectively testified that acts of antisemitism surged significantly after the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. Reports indicated over 2,000 antisemitic incidents were documented by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, contrasting sharply with the previous year’s record of just under 500 incidents.
The atmosphere of fear has not only unsettled the Jewish community but has also led to increased calls for security at Jewish institutions. Toby Raphael, vice president of Newtown Synagogue in Sydney, expressed concerns over the necessity for security measures that had previously seemed unnecessary. He mentioned that the synagogue was vandalized with swastikas in 2025, demonstrating the alarming rise in antisemitic sentiment. Raphael articulated sorrow over the conditions under which children now attend school, necessitating armed security personnel.
Prior to the Bondi shooting, antisemitism was already gaining prominence through attacks on Jewish schools and community centers, which prompted the Australian government to reassess its response to such hate crimes. In August 2025, the government took action against Iran following its involvement in orchestrating some of these attacks. The current inquiry is addressing these frustrations and fears, as many witnesses have expressed contemplating leaving Australia due to the rising level of antisemitism.
The Royal Commission's latest interim report, released in April 2026, recommended urgent reforms to firearm regulations and the implementation of a national weapons buyback program in light of the massacre. The incident marked a grim reminder of the lethal potential of gun violence in a nation that has historically maintained strict gun control following a notorious mass shooting in Tasmania three decades ago.
Sajid Akram was killed at the scene during the police response to the attack. His son, Naveed Akram, who survived, faces multiple charges, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act, although he has yet to enter a plea. The hearings continue to draw attention to the urgent need for societal change in addressing the plight of the Jewish community in Australia amidst a backdrop of fear and rising violence.
