Royal Commission Probes Rise of Antisemitism After Bondi Beach Shooting

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by retired judge Virginia Bell, began public hearings in May 2026 to investigate the prevalence of hatred and discrimination toward Jewish Australians. The inquiry was established after a December 14, 2025, mass shooting at Bondi Beach, where gunmen Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram allegedly killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.

Witnesses, including Holocaust survivor Peter Halasz and community leaders, testified that antisemitism shifted from sporadic abuse to sustained intimidation following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Testimony detailed an avalanche of incidents, including the firebombing of homes, doxxing, and the fortification of schools. Some witnesses reported that children as young as seven were targeted at sports clubs, while others described workplace discrimination and the need for extreme security measures at primary schools.

Commissioner Bell has already released an interim report containing 14 recommendations, including gun reforms and increased security for Jewish public events. During the proceedings, police arrested a man for wearing a swastika shirt outside the hearings. While the commission seeks to map the normalization of abuse, journalist Antony Loewenstein criticized the inquiry for relying on mainstream lobby groups that he argues do not represent the diverse views of the community. A final report is expected by December 14, 2026.