Overview
- Two columns contend the Bondi Beach shooting was a targeted antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah gathering that killed 15 people.
- Critics fault early reactions that emphasized gun policy over motive, citing Billie Eilish’s comments and the Australian prime minister’s initial statement.
- Writers note Australia already has stringent firearms laws as the government pledges tighter restrictions following the attack.
- Accounts highlight civilian bravery, including rescuer Ahmed Al-Ahmed, lifeguards who ran toward gunfire, and victims such as a 10-year-old girl named Matilda.
- The pieces situate the violence within more than two years of rising antisemitic incidents in Australia, including threats, vandalism, and a synagogue set alight.