🇦🇺 Global Outrage: PM Modi Declares India Stands with Australia After Terror Attack Targets Jewish Hanukkah Celebration in Sydney
Ghastly Bondi Beach Attack Kills 15; Israel’s Netanyahu Accuses Australian PM of Fueling Antisemitism Amidst International Condemnation
Sydney’s Bondi Beach Hit by Ghastly Terrorist Attack
The world watched in horror as Australia suffered one of its deadliest mass shootings in decades. On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach was the scene of a ghastly terrorist attack that left at least 15 people dead and dozens wounded. Australian authorities swiftly declared the incident an act of terrorism, confirming it was a targeted, antisemitic assault against the local Jewish community.
The victims were gunned down while gathering to celebrate the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at a public event called “Chanukah by the Sea.” Among the confirmed victims were a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi, and a Holocaust survivor, underscoring the tragic impact on the community. The incident immediately triggered an international wave of condemnation and a global discussion on rising antisemitism.
India Affirms ‘Zero Tolerance’ and Full Solidarity with Australia
The attack drew a robust and immediate response from New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to “strongly condemn” the terror attack, expressing profound shock at the violence. In a significant display of diplomatic solidarity, the Prime Minister explicitly stated: “We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief.”
The statement reiterated India’s unwavering policy of “zero tolerance towards terrorism” and pledged continued support for the global fight against all forms of radicalism. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar echoed the condemnation, further cementing the strategic and emotional alignment between India and Australia, both members of the critical Quad partnership, against threats of extremism.
Israel Links Attack to Global Antisemitism and Foreign Policy
The targeting of the Hanukkah celebration drew an emotional and politically charged response from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “vile” terrorism and linked the Sydney massacre to what he termed the rising tide of global antisemitism.
In a highly controversial diplomatic move, Netanyahu publicly accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of fuelling anti-Jewish hatred. He suggested that Australia’s policy steps favoring the recognition of a Palestinian state reward terrorists and embolden those who threaten Jews globally. The official Israeli Embassy in India also posted a sharp rebuke, cautioning against those who call to “Globalise the Intifada,” stating that such rhetoric encourages the murder of innocent Jews on a global scale. The event has thus become a flashpoint, highlighting the extreme geopolitical fallout of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.