There have been several incidents across the world in which Jewish communities have been targeted by Islamist terrorists, raising concerns about a growing pattern of anti-Jewish violence.
The latest such incident occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where an attack led to the killing of 16 people, including a child, and left more than 40 injured. A father and son opened fire for at least seven minutes during an event marking the first night of Hanukkah, a Jewish festival. Authorities designated the incident a terrorist attack on Sydney’s Jewish community, and an improvised explosive device (IED) was also found in a nearby car.
Of the two attackers—a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son—police shot and killed the father, while the son remains in critical condition in custody. The father was identified as Sajid Akram, who allegedly owed allegiance to the Islamic State, and his son as Naveed Akram.
The visuals of the attackers calmly aiming and firing at a helpless crowd celebrating a religious festival in an open public space are deeply disturbing. The incident raises an unsettling question: are Jews no longer able to celebrate their religious events publicly without fear?
A Pattern of Attacks on Jewish Communities
This was not an isolated incident. On 2 October 2025, a synagogue in Manchester was attacked during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, when a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians before stabbing worshippers.
Looking further back, history reveals a troubling pattern of similar attacks on Jewish targets worldwide:
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Buenos Aires, Argentina (July 18, 1994): Terrorists attacked the Argentina Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA), killing 85 people and injuring over 150 others. The attack was carried out with operational assistance from Hizballah.
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Istanbul, Turkey (November 15, 2003): Two car bombs exploded simultaneously at the Beth Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues during Sabbath prayers, killing 29 people and wounding hundreds. The attacks were linked to a local group influenced by Al-Qaeda.
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Casablanca, Morocco (May 16, 2003): Four coordinated attacks targeted Jewish community institutions, killing 42 people and injuring about 100 others. The attacks were carried out by members of the Salafiya Jihadiya movement.
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Djerba, Tunisia (April 11, 2002): A suicide bomber detonated a truck loaded with propane gas outside one of the world’s oldest synagogues, killing more than 20 people. Responsibility was claimed by the Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Sites.
These incidents highlight how Jewish communities have repeatedly been targeted in acts of terror across continents.
Rising Religious Hatred and Global Concern
In a world witnessing growing religious hatred, it has become increasingly difficult to prevent sudden eruptions of violence, where members of one group attack another based solely on religious identity. Such violence is particularly horrific when innocent civilians are killed in broad daylight simply because of their faith.
Recent incidents suggest that anti-Jewish terrorism is becoming a global concern, with Jewish communities being targeted by Islamist extremists in many parts of the world.
Australia’s Response and Gun Law Reforms
In response to the Bondi Beach attack, the Australian Cabinet has taken steps to strengthen gun laws. Planned measures include stricter controls on weapons imports and weapons-related equipment.
Among the proposed reforms are:
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Allowing only Australian citizens to hold firearms
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Excluding immigrants and non-citizens without valid status from firearm ownership
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Granting licences only after thorough intelligence and security checks, including criminal background verification
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Limiting the types of firearms permitted
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Restricting the number of firearms an individual can own
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Ending open-ended firearm licences
Despite already strict gun laws, recurring shooting incidents prompted the Australian government to begin work on a National Firearms Register (NFR) in 2024, which it now aims to fast-track.
Australia had earlier banned rapid-fire long guns following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were killed. After that tragedy, lawmakers banned the sale and import of automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and confiscated and destroyed nearly 700,000 firearms nationwide.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the Bondi Beach massacre as an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation. Investigations revealed that the attackers had legally obtained licences for the weapons used, including rifles and at least one shotgun.
The Bondi attack was the deadliest shooting in Australia in nearly three decades. In response, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has decided to fast-track the operationalisation of the National Firearms Register.
The NFR will provide frontline police with near real-time access to information on firearms, firearm owners, and licences. It will enable nationwide tracing of firearms across domestic and international borders, secure information sharing among law-enforcement agencies, licence verification services, and the issuance of national alerts.