Washington, DC — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Sunday with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong about the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that struck members of the Jewish community celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
A State Department statement attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio and Wong discussed the incident and that the United States “strongly condemns” the attack on the Hanukkah gathering hosted by Chabad-Lubavitch of Bondi. The release also cited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described the incident as “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism.”
The statement said the US stands in solidarity with the Jewish community and the Australian people, offering prayers for the victims and their families and praising first responders and bystanders for their heroic actions. It noted the significance of Hanukkah as a commemoration of the triumph of light over darkness and the long history of Jewish resilience, saying no community should fear publicly celebrating its faith and traditions and that antisemitism must be confronted and defeated.
Australian authorities have confirmed the death toll has risen to 16, with at least 40 people hospitalized. The New South Wales Police Force posted on X that those figures followed yesterday’s shooting, and CNN reported that a 12-year-old girl and a rabbi were among the dead.
Police said the Bondi Beach area remains sealed off while investigators work the scene. Roads around Bondi are closed and aircraft, including drones, are prohibited from flying over the area as investigations continue.
Prime Minister Albanese, in an address to the nation, called the episode a devastating terror attack, expressed solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community, and thanked police for their response. He noted that off-duty officers who arrived at Bondi assisted on the scene and praised their dedication and courage after a briefing at Bondi Police Station.
Rubio also posted on X, condemning the attack and saying, ‘Antisemitism has no place in this world,’ offering prayers for the victims, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.
Reporting for this account draws on statements from the US State Department and updates from Australian authorities and media outlets.
