Witnesses give testimony at Australia antisemitism royal commission hearings
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 8
Witnesses give testimony at Australia antisemitism royal commission hearings
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 8
At hearings led by commissioner Virginia Bell, Jewish Australians described fear after December's Bondi massacre, when two gunmen killed 15 people and injured 40 at a Hanukah event.
Evidence detailed abuse in schools, online and in public, political intimidation, and frustration with police and wider society for failing to act before threats escalated.
The commission links the surge to Middle East events and heard that debate over Israel and Gaza is often conflated with hostility toward Jewish Australians; police maintained heavy security outside.
If 'hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews,' is Australia's multicultural society now facing an existential threat?
How did two terrorists legally arm themselves and plot a massacre for months under the nose of Australian intelligence?
Australia’s Antisemitism Crisis: The Bondi Beach Massacre, Royal Commission Findings, and the Struggle for Social Cohesion (2025–2026)
Overview
Rising antisemitism in Australia has led to immediate and profound human impacts, most notably after the tragic Bondi Beach attack in December 2025, where 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration. In response, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was established, with its first public hearings in May 2026. These hearings have given the Jewish community a platform to share their experiences, revealing deep psychological and social effects. The Commission’s work highlights the urgent need for stronger social cohesion and better protection for vulnerable communities across Australia.