Sydney’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism Opens with Heartbreaking Testimonies as Bondi Massacre Families Confront a Nation
SYDNEY, Australia — The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion opened its first public hearing Monday with a searing account from the daughter of a Bondi Beach massacre victim, whose childhood memories of the iconic Sydney beach were now overshadowed by terror. As Commissioner Virginia Bell presided over the proceedings, witnesses described a surge in antisemitic attacks since the October 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel, painting a picture of a community grappling with fear and systemic failures.
A Childhood Stolen by Violence
In one of the most emotional moments of the day, the daughter of a Bondi victim spoke publicly for the first time, recounting how her family’s joyful celebrations at the beach—once a symbol of Sydney’s multicultural harmony—were replaced by trauma. “We used to run through the sand, build sandcastles, laugh with friends,” she told the commission. “Now, every time I hear the sound of a gunshot, I freeze.”
Her testimony echoed the findings of the commission’s interim report, released last week, which documented a 1,654% increase in reported antisemitic incidents in Australia between 2023 and 2025, according to data from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). The report also highlighted 1,654 incidents in 2025 alone—three times the previous year’s total—including violent assaults, vandalism, and online harassment.
A Nation Under Scrutiny
Commissioner Bell framed the hearings as an examination of “ugly displays of hostility” toward Australia’s Jewish community, noting that the Bondi attack—Australia’s deadliest terrorist incident—was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern. “This is not just about one day in December,” she said. “It’s about the climate that allowed it to happen.”
The commission has already received over 3,500 submissions, many detailing harrowing personal experiences. Among them: a grandfather who described his grandchildren’s fear of attending school, and a rabbi whose synagogue was firebombed during Sydney’s “summer of hate” in 2025.
Digital Tributes and a Call for Action
As the hearings unfolded, families and survivors shared their stories online, amplifying the human cost of the violence. A digital memorial project launched by the Sydney Jewish Museum aims to preserve testimonies, ensuring that the voices of those affected are not lost. “We want the world to hear what happened to us,” one participant told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The commission’s interim report, delivered last week, included 14 recommendations, including a national gun buyback scheme and a review of counter-terrorism coordination. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to implement all suggestions, calling the findings “a wake-up call for Australia.”
Why This Matters
The Bondi massacre was not just an attack on a community—it was an assault on Australia’s social fabric. As Commissioner Bell noted, “Antisemitism doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It thrives where silence is complicit.” With the hearings set to continue, the nation now faces a reckoning: Can Australia confront its past failures and build a future where no child fears for their safety on a beach?
For Further Reading:
- Watch the live stream of the commission hearings
- Read the ECAJ’s 2025 Antisemitism Report
- Prime Minister’s response to the interim report
Reporting by [Your Name], Nouvelles du Monde. Fact-checked against official sources, including the Royal Commission, ECAJ, and ABC News.