Australian PM Albanese announces bravery award for Hanukkah attack heroes

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday that his government plans to create a national bravery award to recognize civilians and first responders who risked their lives during a mass shooting that killed 15 people at Hanukkah celebrations earlier this month.

The announcement comes as Australia grapples with the fallout from its deadliest massacre since 1996. Authorities described it as an ISIS-inspired attack targeting the country’s Jewish community during the holiday season.

Albanese said Christmas was marked by the stark contrast between extremist violence and “the best of humanity”.

“This Christmas is a different Christmas because of the fight against terrorism and terrorist attacks driven by ISIS and antisemitism,” Albanese said at a press conference. he said. “But just as we have seen the worst of humanity, we have also seen the courage, kindness and compassion of those put in harm’s way.”

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ALBANIAN WAS BOOED AT THE BONDI BEACH VIgil HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE HANUKKAH ATTACK

Albanese said his government plans to create a special honors system that recognizes the heroism of those who faced what he called “the worst of evil” during the December 14 attack; These included Syrian-born Australian Muslim store owner Ahmed al-Ahmad, who neutralized one of the gunmen before he was injured.

The award will recognize those nominated for bravery or merit awards under the current Australian Honors and Awards system for their actions during and after the attack, according to the Associated Press.

In the video, two different people, Boris and Sofia Gurman, were seen confronting an armed man before the shooting began at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

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Despite efforts to disarm him, the gunman later overpowered and killed them, according to authorities.

Australian authorities said a father and son accused of carrying out the attack – 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram – filmed a video manifesto containing anti-Semitic language and expressions of support for the Islamic State.

Investigators said the two may have been planning the attack for several months.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon attend a memorial service for those killed in the shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 21, 2025. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Only his son survived the attack and now faces murder and terrorism charges.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.