In the wake of the deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach that claimed the lives of 15 people and injured dozens, thousands of Australians have come together in public vigils and memorial gatherings to mourn the victims and affirm solidarity with the Jewish community.

On the anniversary week of the attack, crowds assembled at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, forming circles on the sand and in the surf as a collective expression of grief and unity.

Many held moments of silence and shared prayers and reflections near the site where two gunmen opened fire on families gathered for the first night of the Festival of Lights, in what authorities described as an antisemitically motivated terrorist act.

Thousands also attended an organized community vigil hosted by the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, estimated by organisers to draw up to twenty thousand participants, where leaders and local officials spoke about resilience and the need for national cohesion in the face of terrorism and hate.

These gatherings included voices from across cultural and faith communities who came to pay tribute to those lost and to reject hatred.

Amid heightened security, including visible police presence to reassure attendees and protect public safety, the demonstrations reflected a broader national reckoning with antisemitism and public safety.

Families of the victims have meanwhile called for more robust federal action and the establishment of a royal commission to investigate security failures and the broader rise of antisemitic incidents in Australian society since the onset of the Israel–Hamas conflict.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed empathy for victims and announced an independent review, while state leaders have discussed additional measures to protect communities at risk.

The vigils and rallies across Australia represent both mourning for a profound tragedy and a collective determination to uphold social harmony and address the underlying issues that allowed such violence to occur.