The Bondi massacre interim report is out. Don’t mention the G word

The interim report from the Royal Commission set up after the Bondi massacre recommends changes, with wider issues such as ‘social cohesion’ yet to be addressed. Stephanie Tran And Kim Wingerei report.

The interim report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has been published. The report includes 14 recommendations, five of which are confidential.

The Royal Commission was established in January following the Bondi Beach terror attack, in which fifteen people died when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered to celebrate Hanukkah. The interim report focuses on the circumstances surrounding the terrorist attack and the law enforcement response.

The commission found no evidence of critical errors in Australia’s intelligence or legal frameworks that would have prevented authorities from preventing the terrorist attack. There is also no open criticism of the response of the police and emergency services on the night, although this is likely to be examined in more detail during public hearings.

“We have not identified any material or advice from any agency within existing legal and regulatory frameworks that would impede the ability of law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to prevent or respond to an attack of the type that occurred in Bondi on 14 December 2025,” the report states.

Commissioner Virginia Bell is understandably at pains to avoid an interim report that would undermine the surviving perpetrator’s upcoming trial; this includes “not making findings or comments about the shooters’ intentions and motivations.”

Interim Recommendations

Public recommendations include calls to expand high-level police operations used on major Jewish holidays to other high-risk events, strengthen national counterterrorism coordination, and prioritize firearms reform, including a national gun buyback plan.

Many of the recommendations focus on procedures, investigations and better coordination among multiple counterterrorism bodies.

The five recommendations are classified and will remain so (at least) until the criminal case is concluded.

Although not included in any of the public recommendations, the report frequently mentions the involvement of Jewish Community Security Groups (CSGs) and how these private groups interact with the AFP.

Focus of antisemitism

The publication of the interim report comes amid ongoing debate about the drivers of antisemitism in Australia, particularly in the context of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. However, although the report acknowledges the connection between antisemitism and Gaza oppression, the g-word is not mentioned even once.

Antisemitism is mentioned 271 times and Islamophobia is mentioned 1 time.

In a column published by MWM Earlier this week, lawyer and Jewish community leader Jeffrey Loewenstein said the Royal Commissioner must “grapple with anti-Israeli sentiment” arising from Israel’s actions in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon.

“There have been many attempts to conflate anti-Israelism with being antisemitic, including pushing the IHRA ‘definition’ of antisemitism,” he wrote.

“Special Representative on Antisemitism Jillian Segal tried to convince us that weekly protest marches and even the eventful march on the Sydney Harbor Bridge (under the banner of the March for Humanity) breed antisemitism.”

Antisemitism Royal Commission dilemma: Not all Jews think alike

Questions also arose about the independence of the legal bodies involved in the investigation.

Earlier this week, Deepcut News The Jewish Law and Justice Center, which was hired to help individuals apply, turned out to have a history of pro-Israel advocacy.

MWM It said law firm Gilbert + Tobin had been appointed as lawyers to assist the commission without an open tender process, despite its affiliation with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

The commission has already received more than 3,500 submissions and will begin public hearings starting next week.

The final report is expected to be delivered by December 14, 2026.

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