‘Escalation’ in alleged anti-Semitic events before Bondi massacre
Following the Bondi massacre, Jewish leaders claimed that the Australian government had failed to take into account the increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the country over the past two years.
Just a week and a half before the attack, the Executive Council of Australian Jews reported that anti-Semitic incidents in Australia were almost five times the pre-October 7, 2023 level.
As Australia and the world mourn the loss of the Australian-Jewish community, NSW Premier Chris Minns has vowed to enforce strict hate speech laws.
He said he believes: “Anti-Semitism starts with slogans… then a Twitter post, anti-Semitism on the street, graffiti on the side of the synagogue, then we saw a synagogue burned down. And then it manifests itself in acts of violence in our society.”
“This is an escalation,” Premier Minns said on ABC Breakfast on Sunday morning.
Australian police laid 249 charges against 231 people allegedly linked to anti-Semitic incidents; 44 of these involved physical violence.
Here are some of the notable anti-Semitic incidents from the last two years.
9 October 2023: Sydney Opera House hymns
Just days after the October 7 attack, a Free Palestine rally was held outside the Sydney Opera House, illuminated with blue and white lights, in solidarity with Israel.
Online reports suggested that protesters chanted “Gas the Jews.”
But then NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said an independent expert had analyzed the audio and found protesters chanting “Where are the Jews?” He confirmed that he was chanting slogans. and “Fuck the Jews.”
May-June 2024: Destruction of parliamentary offices
The officer for then-federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus was vandalized on May 31, 2024.
His office in Mordialloc was covered in red paint.
A month later on June 19, the window of Josh Burns’ St Kilda office was allegedly broken and parts of the building were set on fire.
Burns’ poster featured horns and spray paint saying “Zionism is Fascism.”
October 20, 2024: Lewis’ Continental Kitchen attack
Lewis Continental Kitchen’s kosher deli in Bondi was allegedly broken into and set on fire, causing $1 million in damage.
December 6: Attack on Adass Israel synagogue
Worshipers had to flee early in the morning after the synagogue, one of Australia’s busiest synagogues located in the south-east of Melbourne, was set on fire in an arson attack.
January 21, 2025: Child care center set on fire
A childcare center in Sydney’s south-east was set on fire and spray-painted with anti-Semitic graffiti. The childcare facility was close to the Maroubra Synagogue on Anzac Parade.
January 29, 2025: Dural caravan
Police say a caravan containing explosives with the potential to cause a “mass casualty incident” has been found at a property in the northwestern Sydney suburb of Dural.
A list of Jewish sites was found, with a note reading “Fuck the Jews.”
Police later said it was a “hoax terror plot” allegedly orchestrated by organized criminals.
12 February 2025: Bankstown nurses allegedly threatened Israeli patients
Two nurses from Bankstown hospital in Sydney’s south-west allegedly filmed themselves saying they were refusing to provide healthcare to Israeli patients.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 28, made international headlines after allegations went viral that the pair had threatened violence against Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital.
The pair were filmed making the comments and wearing their NSW Health uniforms during a video call with Israeli influencer Max Veifer.
Both will fight the allegations in court.
Mr Nadir pleaded not guilty to using the transport service to threaten, harass or offend.
Ms Lebdeh pleaded not guilty to using a carriage service to threaten, harass or offend a group and to threaten violence.
Both are still before the court.
November 8, 2025: Neo-Nazi rally
“Destroy the Jewish lobby,” a banner read during a rally outside the NSW parliament attended by about 60 members of the neo-Nazi group known as White Australia.
It was reported that chants and slogans of the Hitler youth were also chanted.
14 December 2025: Bondi Beach terrorist attack
The horrific Bondi Beach attack that claimed the lives of 15 innocent people celebrating the first day of Hannukah. At 18.47, shots were opened targeting a crowded family group.
This was the worst mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre.
