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A police detective walks near houses vandalized with anti-Israel slogans in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Credit – Mark Baker—Associated Press
Two gunmen shot at a crowd of beachgoers in Sydney, Australia, killing at least 12 people and wounding at least 30 during a Jewish holiday event at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in what Australian authorities are calling a terrorist attack.
The attack, which targeted an event marking the first day of Hanukkah at the popular tourist destination, is the latest and most deadly in a string of antisemitic incidents that have blighted Australia since the onset of the war in Gaza in October 2023.
The subsequent sixteen months were sullied by firebombing, arson, graffiti, and hate speech incidents that prompted Mike Burgess, the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), to proclaim that his top priority in terms of threat to life is antisemitism.
Read more: Bondi Beach Terror Attack: At Least 12 Killed as Gunmen Target Jewish Holiday Event
Figures from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) show that antisemitic incidents in Australia have reached historically high levels, at “almost five times the average annual number before October 7, 2023.” The group documented 1,654 anti‑Jewish incidents across Australia between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, in addition to 2,062 incidents nationwide the year before.
Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial center, has repeatedly raised concerns about a dangerous rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia, including in personal meetings with the premiers of Victoria and New South Wales.
Following an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne in July, the center said that “not enough is being done.” It called on Australian authorities to “implement robust educational initiatives to combat hatred and to teach about the dire dangers of unchecked antisemitism.”
Jewish leaders from the world’s seven largest diaspora communities convened in Sydney earlier this month to call for action against antisemitism in Australia.
Speaking in the wake of the deadly attack on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had warned his Australian counterpart that the country’s policies were fueling antisemitism.
“Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” he said, referring to a letter he sent to Anthony Albanese in August following Canberra’s announcement that it would recognise Palestinian statehood.
“Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders are silent and do not act,” Netanyahu added during a televised public address at an event in southern Israel.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Bondi Beach attack on Sunday, calling it “evil” that was “beyond comprehension,” and convened a meeting of the country’s national security council.
“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy,” Albanese said, adding, “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”
Below is a timeline of antisemitic incidents in Australia over the last two years.
May 25, 2024: Antisemitic graffiti at Jewish school
Mount Scopus Memorial College, one of Australia’s largest and oldest Jewish schools in Melbourne’s east, was targeted in an antisemitic vandalism attack when the phrase “Jew die” was spray‑painted on the exterior fence of the school’s Burwood campus.
Police in Victoria launched an investigation and appealed for public assistance, releasing CCTV footage of a person of interest riding a bicycle near the scene. The graffiti was widely condemned by politicians and community leaders as a deeply troubling act of hatred that has no place in Australian society, and raised concerns about rising antisemitism and student safety.
Oct. 13, 2024: Jewish-owned bakery defaced
A popular Jewish‑owned bakery in Sydney’s inner‑city suburb of Surry Hills was defaced with antisemitic graffiti and a threatening note, heightening concerns about rising hate incidents. Avner’s Bakery, owned by local TV chef Ed Halmagyi, had an inverted red triangle—a symbol associated with both Nazi persecution and used by some extremists to mark Jewish targets— spray‑painted on its window.
Police said the offensive graffiti was reported at the Bourke Street premises, and a handwritten note reading “Be careful” was found slipped under the door. Halmagyi shared the note on social media, calling the incident “Being Jewish in Sydney, 2024 edition,” and NSW Police launched an investigation. Community leaders condemned the attack as a troubling expression of antisemitic intimidation.
Oct. 17, 2024: Brewery arson
The front door of the Curly Lewis Brewing Company, a popular brewery near Bondi Beach in Sydney’s east, was deliberately set on fire in the early hours of the morning. CCTV and court documents show two men poured accelerant underneath the front door and ignited it before fleeing; the blaze self‑extinguished after a short time thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, but caused significant damage to the entrance.
Police later linked the arson to a broader investigation into antisemitic attacks in Sydney, although authorities say the brewery was likely mistakenly targeted instead of a nearby kosher deli, Lewis’ Continental Kitchen. Two men — Guy Finnegan and Craig Bantoft — later pleaded guilty to the fire charge, with officers investigating whether they were acting on instructions from an unknown figure.
Oct. 20, 2024: Kosher deli attack
The kosher deli Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Sydney’s Bondi suburb was deliberately set alight in an antisemitic arson attack, causing extensive damage. As part of a broader task force investigation into a series of antisemitic incidents, police charged former biker gang member Sayed Moosawi in March 2025 with allegedly directing two men to torch both Lewis’ Continental Kitchen and nearby Curly Lewis Brewing Company to distract police resources; Moosawi denied the charges and was released on bail.
Australian authorities later said intelligence from the national security agency found credible evidence that Iran’s government played a role in the Oct. 20 attack on the kosher deli, a claim that led Canberra to expel Iran’s ambassador and accuse Tehran of undermining social cohesion through antisemitic violence.
Nov. 21, 2024: Rampage in Jewish community
In a brazen antisemitic attack in Woollahra, a leafy eastern suburb of Sydney that has a significant Jewish community, a car was set on fire, and multiple vehicles and buildings were vandalised with anti‑Israel and antisemitic graffiti in the early hours of the morning. Police said about 10 cars, including one torched vehicle, were spray‑painted with slogans such as “f*** Israel,” while properties and a nearby restaurant were also defaced. Fire crews extinguished the blaze, and authorities estimated more than $100,000 in damage.
The incident drew condemnation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and local leaders. Albanese called it a “deeply troubling” and “disgusting” act of hate and vowed police would investigate. The attack was investigated under a strike force handling a string of antisemitic incidents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Dec. 6, 2024: Synagogue arson
In the early hours before dawn, masked men broke into the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Ripponlea suburb of Melbourne and firebombed the place of worship, pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight, causing extensive damage to the building and its interior. The blaze, which drew dozens of firefighters, was later treated by police as a suspected terror attack and became a central focus of a Joint Counter‑Terrorism Team investigation involving Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and national security agencies. Community members inside at the time fled as flames spread, and Jewish leaders described the attack as a shocking escalation of antisemitic violence in Australia.
Prime Minister Albanese condemned the attack as an “outrage” and pledged support for the Jewish community. In August 2025, authorities charged two men in connection with the synagogue firebombing as part of the broader terrorism‑linked probe. Days later, Albanese said intelligence assessments showed the Iranian government had directed the attack, prompting diplomatic action and highlighting growing concerns about foreign influence behind some antisemitic incidents on Australian soil.
Dec. 7, 2024: Netanyahu blames Australian government
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly linked the recent wave of antisemitic attacks in Australia to what he described as the Australian government’s “anti‑Israel” stance at the United Nations, including Canberra’s vote for a resolution critical of Israel’s policies. Netanyahu said that support for such U.N. positions made it “impossible to separate” antisemitic violence, such as the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, from Australia’s diplomatic position on the Israel‑Palestine conflict. His comments drew criticism from Australian officials, who rejected the suggestion that government policy was to blame for the attacks.
Dec. 9, 2024: Antisemitism task force launched
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced the launch of a dedicated antisemitism task force, known as Special Operation Avalite, to investigate a spate of antisemitic threats, violence and hate incidents across the country. The unit, established in the wake of the Dec. 6 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and other attacks, is staffed with counterterrorism investigators and works with state and territory police to target high‑harm antisemitism against Jewish communities and public figures. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the task force would enhance national efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Dec. 11, 2024: Jewish neighborhood attacked again
The eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra, which has a large Jewish community, was attacked for the second time in as many months as police found a car set on fire and multiple homes and buildings vandalised with antisemitic and anti‑Israel graffiti, including a misspelled slogan reading “Kill Israiel.” Officers established a crime scene on Magney Street and were seeking two male suspects seen fleeing the area. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Albanese condemned the attack as a “hate crime” and “outrage,” with police pledging increased patrols and investigation under a broader antisemitism task force.
Jan. 7, 2025: Worshippers threatened
A 20‑year‑old man was charged after allegedly making threatening gestures toward worshippers near the Chabad North Shore synagogue and Kehillat Masada synagogue in Sydney’s north‑west suburb of St Ives. Police allege the man made a gun‑like hand gesture at pedestrians exiting the synagogues on Link Road on Jan. 4, prompting reports to police and a subsequent arrest at a home in North Turramurra. He was charged with stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm and was granted conditional bail to appear in Hornsby Local Court later in January. The alleged threat came amid a broader wave of reported antisemitic incidents across Sydney.
Jan. 10, 2025: Hitler graffiti
The Allawah Synagogue in southern Sydney was vandalised early Friday with multiple swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti, including the words “Hitler on top,” sprayed on the exterior walls of the place of worship. NSW Police said the incident occurred around 3:55 a.m. and released CCTV footage showing two people in dark clothing near the synagogue. State Premier Chris Minns condemned the act as a “monstrous” hate crime, and police launched a hate‑crime investigation under Operation Shelter. Jewish community leaders called for swift arrests, saying the attack was deeply troubling and had no place in Australia’s multicultural society.
Jan. 11, 2025: Synagogue vandalized
Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was vandalised with red swastikas and other Nazi‑linked graffiti, and police said vandals attempted to set the building on fire by pouring an accelerant that burned briefly before going out. Officers released CCTV images showing two people of interest and counterterrorism detectives took over the investigation, calling it an escalation in antisemitic crime. On the same day, a house in Sydney’s east was also defaced with antisemitic graffiti, prompting a broader police response. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the incidents as unacceptable and heightened police scrutiny under a broader antisemitism probe.
Jan. 16, 2025: Task force makes first arrest
The Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Special Operation Avalite made its first arrest in Sydney when a 44‑year‑old man from Blacktown was charged with allegedly posting death threats to members of a Jewish organisation on social media. He was charged with using a carriage service to make a threat to kill and to menace, harass or cause offence — offences that carry up to 10 and five years’ imprisonment, respectively — and was granted watch‑house bail ahead of a Downing Centre Local Court appearance later in February. The AFP seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home as part of the ongoing investigation into high‑harm antisemitic conduct.
Jan. 17, 2025: Cars set alight
Two cars were set on fire, and four vehicles in total were damaged, while a house was vandalised with red paint in the Sydney suburb of Dover Heights in an antisemitic attack. The property was formerly owned by Alex Ryvchin, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
Jan. 19, 2025: Hate crime laws announced
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced a suite of tougher hate‑crime and anti‑protest laws aimed at strengthening protections against antisemitism and racial hatred. The legislative package included new offences targeting harassment, intimidation or blocking of people entering or leaving places of worship, penalties for displaying Nazi symbols near sacred sites, and expanded police powers to give “move‑on” directions to protesters in or near places of worship. Minns said the measures were necessary to ensure people of faith can practise their religion free from intimidation and to address a recent spate of antisemitic attacks in the state.
Jan. 21, 2025: Childcare center defaced
A childcare centre in Sydney’s east was set alight and sprayed with antisemitic graffiti early Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the unoccupied building less than 200 metres from the Maroubra Synagogue. The words “F*** the Jews” were found amid the vandalism, and police established a crime scene as part of an ongoing hate‑crime investigation. NSW and federal leaders condemned the attack as “despicable” and “horrifying,” and authorities continued efforts to identify and arrest suspects. Police also charged a woman in connection with a Dec. 11 antisemitic vandalism incident in Sydney’s east. In response to the escalation of antisemitic attacks, Prime Minister Albanese convened a national cabinet meeting to coordinate a whole‑of‑government response to the rising wave of antisemitism.
Jan. 29, 2025: Potential terror threat
New South Wales police confirmed that a caravan found in Dural, in Sydney’s northwest, containing a significant quantity of explosives and antisemitic‑linked material was under investigation as a potential terror threat after it was reported to authorities earlier in January. Officers from state and federal counter‑terrorism units, including the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, treated the discovery as an escalation amid a wave of antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish sites. Police said the caravan was first noticed on Jan. 19, with the explosive material capable of a large blast radius, and included a note referencing Jewish targets. Authorities later determined the plot was likely a fabricated plan orchestrated by organised crime figures to distract police resources rather than a credible terror attack, with investigators calling it a “fake terrorism plot.”
Feb. 12, 2025: Threats to Jewish patients
Two nurses at Bankstown‑Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney’s west were suspended and their nursing registrations barred nationwide after a video circulating on TikTok and other social platforms appeared to show them threatening to kill Jewish or Israeli patients and saying they would refuse to treat them if they presented for care. The clip, which unfolded during an online conversation with an Israeli social media user, drew widespread condemnation from political and health leaders, with New South Wales officials calling the remarks “vile, disgusting and unacceptable.” NSW Police and health authorities launched a criminal investigation into possible offences, including using a carriage service to menace, harass or threaten to kill, and both nurses were stood down pending that probe.
July 4, 2025: Arson attack on Shabbat
About 20 worshippers attending a Shabbat dinner at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were forced to evacuate through a rear exit after a man poured flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight, prompting firefighters to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured, and police later arrested a 34‑year‑old Sydney man, Angelo Loras, charging him with arson, reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon; he was remanded in custody. Authorities were also investigating whether the synagogue arson was linked to a separate disturbance that night at an Israeli‑owned restaurant in the city’s central business district, where protesters clashed with patrons and police. The incident was condemned by federal and state leaders as a targeted act of violence amid a broader pattern of antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Dec. 14, 2025: Bondi Beach terror attack
Sunday’s attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, on the first day of Hanukkah killed at least 12 and injured 30 people, including two police officers.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
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