Australia PM rejects links between recognition of Palestine and Bondi attack

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected claims made by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the Bondi Beach massacre was fuelled by antisemitism stemming from Australian recognition of a Palestinian state.

On Sunday, following the antisemitic attack that killed at least 15 people and wounded 40, Netanyahu said he had previously warned Albanese before Australia recognised Palestine that his government's policy "was promoting and encouraging antisemitism".

Later asked whether he perceived a link between the recognition of Palestinian statehood and the terrorist attack, Albanese said in a live television interview with ABC: “No, I don’t, and overwhelmingly, most of the world recognises a two-state solution as being the way forward in the Middle East.”

On the first day of Hanukkah, members of the local Jewish community in Bondi had gathered for religious celebrations, when two armed men commenced firing upon the crowd.

In a video recorded by bystanders, one of the shooters is seen being disarmed by a local fruit shop owner, Ahmed Al Ahmed, who is currently hospitalised.

The man's courage has been commended by world leaders, including Albanese and Donald Trump.

In a statement, Netanyahu also praised the man, erroneously calling him Jewish, while, in reality, the Australian citizen is a Muslim of Syrian descent.

Australia recognised the state of Palestine on 21 September 2025, along with Canada and the United Kingdom.

This move aimed to “recognise the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own” and was part of coordinated international efforts to build momentum for a two-state solution in the wake of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Netanyahu's claims have been condemned by many. 

Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur for human right and counterterror, posted on X: “I am disgusted that the Israeli PM links Australia’s principled support for a Palestinian state with yesterday’s terrorist attack in Bondi. Australia has taken extensive measures to prevent antisemitism.”

Nevertheless, similar anti-Palestinian or Islamophobic sentiments have emerged elsewhere since the massacre, linking the attack to solidarity with Palestinians seen in Australia and the West.

In a column published by the New York Times on Sunday, Bret Stephens echoed Netanyahu's rhetoric, claiming that “Bondi Beach Is What ‘Globalize the Intifada’ Looks Like”, in reference to the Arabic word for "uprising". 

Another opinion piece published in The Atlantic was titled “The Intifada Comes to Bondi Beach”.

Universal condemnation

Furthermore, Australian opposition leader Sussan Ley of the Liberal Party, accused the government of not being able to keep Jewish Australians safe.

Before the attack, Ley promised she would reverse the recognition of Palestinian statehood if elected to office.

Praise for Syrian-Australian man who tackled Bondi Beach shooter

Read More »

On Sunday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry also condemned the attacks and extended its condolences to the families of the victims.

Australia's Palestine Advocacy Network has also issued a statement "unequivocally condemning the antisemitic terrorist attacks".

The Australian National Cabinet has agreed to proceed with an overhaul of Australia's gun laws following the massacre.

The shootings were carried out by a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was killed, and Naveed Akram, 24, is in a critical condition in hospital. Sajid had a gun licence and six weapons.

ABC said Naveed was under investigation six years ago over ties to an Islamic State group cell, and two of its flags were found in the gunmen's car.

The victims killed were aged from 10 to 87, including prominent London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger.