Sydney, Australia – Israel’s President Isaac Herzog arrived in Australia on Monday, February 9, 2026, and immediately paid an emotional tribute to the victims of the deadly Bondi Beach shooting that claimed 15 lives during a Jewish festival on December 14, 2025.
In a solemn ceremony at Bondi Beach under heavy security and overcast skies, Herzog laid a wreath at a temporary memorial site and addressed a small gathering of Australian Jewish community leaders, survivors, and dignitaries. He described the attack—carried out during a Hanukkah celebration—as an act of pure “evil” and called for people of all faiths to stand united in the face of such hatred.
“Evil sought to strike at the heart of our community here in this beautiful place, but evil will not prevail,” Herzog said. “We will stand together—Jews, Christians, Muslims, people of all beliefs and none—because unity is our strongest shield against those who seek to divide and destroy.”
The December 14 incident, which remains under active investigation by Australian federal and New South Wales authorities, saw a lone gunman open fire on attendees at an outdoor Hanukkah menorah-lighting event near Bondi Beach. Fifteen people, including children and elderly participants, were killed, and dozens more were injured before police fatally shot the assailant. The attack was widely condemned as an act of antisemitic terrorism, though investigators have not yet released a final motive.
Herzog’s visit marks the first trip by an Israeli president to Australia since the tragedy and is intended to demonstrate Israel’s unwavering solidarity with the country’s Jewish community, which has faced rising antisemitic incidents in recent years. The four-day itinerary includes meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and leaders of major Jewish organizations, as well as private sessions with families of the victims.
Speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony, Herzog emphasized resilience and hope in the face of tragedy.
“Fifteen precious lives were stolen from us in an instant of hatred,” he said. “But their memory will not be extinguished. It will fuel our determination to build a world where no one has to fear celebrating their faith in public. We mourn together, we heal together, and we will overcome together.”
The event took place under tight security, with Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police maintaining a large perimeter around the beachfront memorial. Gloomy weather and intermittent rain added to the somber atmosphere as attendees stood in silence during the laying of the wreath and the recitation of prayers.
Australian Jewish leaders welcomed Herzog’s presence as a powerful gesture of support. Jillian Segal, Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, who attended the ceremony, said the president’s visit “reaffirms that no community stands alone in the fight against hatred.”
The Bondi Beach shooting has intensified national debates over security at public religious events, hate-crime legislation, and online radicalization. Prime Minister Albanese has pledged increased funding for community safety programs and stronger measures to combat antisemitism, while the government has also faced criticism over the pace of the investigation and perceived delays in releasing full details.
Herzog’s four-day visit is also expected to include discussions on bilateral ties, technology cooperation, and regional security issues in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. It comes at a time of heightened global attention on antisemitism following a series of attacks on Jewish communities worldwide in recent years.
The Israeli president concluded his remarks with a message of hope: “From this beach, where darkness tried to prevail, a light will continue to shine—the light of unity, the light of humanity, the light that no evil can extinguish.”
President Herzog’s tribute drew widespread coverage across Australian and international media, with many describing it as a poignant symbol of solidarity in the aftermath of one of the deadliest antisemitic attacks in Australia’s history.
