A heartfelt speech delivered at a vigil for the victims of the Bondi Beach massacre deeply resonated with Australians, revealing the nation’s emotions one week after the tragic incident.
David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, addressed the gathering on Sunday evening near the Bondi Pavilion, where he welcomed various political figures to the solemn event.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had earlier designated the day as a Day of Reflection, urging Australians to honor the memory of the 15 lives lost during a Jewish festival on December 14, marking the first night of Hanukkah.
At 6:47 p.m., attendees observed a minute of silence, the exact moment when police received initial reports of the shooting at Bondi Beach the previous Sunday.
As Mr. Ossip introduced the politicians in attendance, the crowd reacted with a mix of emotions, ranging from anger to gratitude, reflecting the complex feelings surrounding the tragedy.
Prime Minister Albanese, in particular, faced the most intense and critical reception from those present.
He was flanked by a large group of security guards as he walked into the event, only to immediately be booed.
One man even began running at the Prime Minister while yelling ‘blood on your hands’.
Anthony Albanese (pictured) was repeatedly booed while attending a vigil for the Bondi Beach massacre victims
Chris Minns (pictured) received a standing ovation at the same event
Anger towards Albanese stems from an apparent lack of action in response to growing antisemitism prior to the attack and his refusal to call a federal royal commission (pictured, an attendee at the vigil on Sunday)
Just minutes later, former prime minister John Howard took the same path into the event and was cheered by the crowd.
Albanese was booed, again, by the crowd of 15,000 when Mr Ossip thanked him for attending the event.
Mr Ossip attempted to quiet the crowd, but the negative response continued.
The crowd’s anger was likely the result of division over how the federal government’s approach to anti-semitism in the lead-up to the attack, and its response thereafter.
Naveed Akram is accused of being responsible for a massacre at the Jewish festival alongside his father, Sajid, on December 14.
A total of 15 people died in the alleged attack and dozens more were injured.
Naveed has been charged with 59 offences. Sajid was fatally shot by police.
In the days following the alleged terrorist attack, several members of the Jewish community called for a federal royal commission to investigate why intelligence authorities didn’t intervene.
Minns has attended every funeral held for Bondi victims so far, unlike Albanese
Minns has acknowledged his state government’s shortcomings several times since the attack on December 14
Both the general public and other high-profile guests warmly welcomed Minns on Sunday
Albanese responded to the calls on Sunday with the announcement of an internal investigation to be undertaken by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the nation’s peak spy agency.
Mr Ossip also addressed the situation during his speech at the vigil by throwing his support behind a royal commission, much to the delight of the audience.
The Jewish leader also thanked NSW Premier Chris Minns for attending the vigil, resulting in a standing ovation.
Minns has been widely praised for his response to the attack.
He has attended the funerals of every victim – unlike Albanese, who will not attend the funerals unless invited – and backed calls for a federal royal commission.
However, maybe the biggest reason for the differing perception of Minns and Albanese has been accountability for the attack.
Since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an incursion on Israel on October 7, 2023, Australia has seen a massive increase in antisemitism.
Pro-Palestine protests calling for Israel to stop its massive siege on Gaza have been frequent across Australian cities for the past two years.
The difference in attitude towards Albanese and Minns was clear when NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip thanked them for attending the event
When Albanese entered the vigil, he was booed and one man ran at him while yelling ‘blood on your hands’
Albanese was booed again when Mr Ossip thanked him for attending the vigil
However, extremist groups have infiltrated those demonstrations several times.
The first instance came on October 9, 2023, when a planned march calling for Israel to stop its airstrikes on Palestine was overrun by a group of antisemites who called for violence against all Jews.
The situation continued to devolve and resulted in a group of neo-Nazis rallying outside the NSW Parliament on November 9, 2025, and demanding the government ‘abolish the Jewish lobby’.
Within 24 hours of the massacre, Minns fronted ABC’s 7.30 to admit his government could have done more to prevent the Bondi attack, which was aimed at the Jewish population.
‘I’m sure if we had our time again, we would have responded differently,’ he said.
Albanese has been less direct in addressing his government’s shortcomings and on Thursday simply told reporters he was ‘not perfect’.
‘I have done my best to respond … anyone in this position would regret not doing more, and any inadequacies which are there,’ Albanese said.
That same night, Minns received a standing ovation as he expressed remorse to the Central Synagogue.
The crowd stood and applauded when Mr Ossip thanked Minns for attending the vigil
Albanese on Sunday announced an internal review of intelligence agencies, ignoring calls for a federal royal commission
‘The first duty of any state is to protect its citizens. The sad reality for me and our state is we didn’t do that. I bear a deep responsibility for that as premier,’ he said.
Mr Ossip concluded his address to Sunday’s vigil with a message of hope.
He said Australian Jews had ‘landed up in a dark place’ but ‘light can eliminate even the bleakest of places’.
‘Until two years ago, Australia was always the lucky country for Jews. But, sadly, no more. We have lost our innocence. Last week took our innocence. And, like the grass here at Bondi was stained with blood, so, too, has our nation been stained,’ he said.
‘A single act of courage, a single flame of hope, can give us direction and point the path forward … And that’s what we have seen this week. Despite the incalculable tragedy which has befallen us, we have seen incredible manifestations of light.’
‘I should just say that if you have not realised it yet – the terrorist picked the wrong community to mess with because we, the Jewish people, are unbreakable.
‘Resilience is in our veins.’
