After spending two weeks in Australia, Oprah Winfrey has shared a heartfelt message of solidarity following the deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the nation and the global Jewish community.
According to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, at least 15 people were killed during the attack, which occurred at a Chanukah by the Sea event marking the beginning of Hanukkah. More than 1,000 people were in attendance at the time, and dozens were injured, including two police officers who were hospitalised.
Oprah, who had recently been in Sydney and visited Bondi Beach just days earlier, reflected on the contrast between her experience of Australia and the violence that unfolded.
"I just spent the last two weeks in Australia, walking Bondi just days ago, feeling the openness and ease that lives there," she wrote on Instagram.
© Instagram"It’s hard to reconcile that sense of peace with the terror of last night. My heart breaks for the victims, their families and loved ones, and all you Aussies."
Her message struck a chord with many Australians, who have described the attack as a profound rupture to the sense of safety associated with one of the country’s most iconic public spaces.
© Getty ImagesAustralian actress Rebel Wilson also added to her views on the matter: "Just waking up to the news about what's happened on Bondi Beach," she wrote. "An absolute tragedy that is the most un-Australian thing to have happen. We shouldn't have gun violence in Australia, we shouldn't have antisemitism - it's not us! Thinking of everyone affected by this devastating violence."
Ashton Kutcher echoed her sentiment: "Antisemitic rhetoric is not abstract—it carries a cost, and my brothers and sisters continue to pay it. May this devastation somehow spark a hidden miracle, one our eyes do not yet have the merit to see."
The Bondi Beach attack
On Sunday 14 December, authorities confirmed that a mass shooting had taken place during a Chanukah by the Sea gathering at Bondi Beach. Police allege that two men opened fire on the crowd, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old child.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, 50, have been named in connection with the attack. One of the alleged gunmen was killed at the scene, while the second remains in custody.
Amid the chaos, Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner and father of two, intervened in an attempt to stop the violence. He reportedly wrestled a firearm from one of the attackers and was seriously injured in the process. His actions have been widely credited with preventing further loss of life.
© dpa/picture alliance via Getty IAhmed has since been praised internationally for his bravery, including by US President Donald Trump, who described him as "a very brave person" who "saved a lot of lives."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as "an act of evil antisemitism," adding: "An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be devastated by this attack on our way of life."
Ivanka Trump also weighed in on the tragedy saying: "As Jews around the world gather around our menorahs on this first night of Hanukkah, we are reminded how desperately the world needs more light and more Kiddush Hashem," she wrote.
© Getty ImagesWhat is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated over eight days, commemorating a victory against Greek forces more than 2,000 years ago and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Often referred to as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is traditionally marked by the lighting of the menorah, along with prayers, food, and gatherings with family and community. This year, Hanukkah is observed from 14 to 22 December.
The targeting of a religious celebration has deepened the sense of grief and anger surrounding the Bondi Beach attack, with leaders and communities emphasising unity, vigilance, and compassion in the days that followed.
