Viktor Orbán Denounces Antisemitic Attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has strongly condemned a violent shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, describing it as a “heinous act of antisemitism.” The attack, which occurred on Sunday, left at least 15 people dead and around 29 others injured, including a child.
Authorities indicated that the gunmen deliberately targeted members of the Jewish community during the first day of Hanukkah, heightening concerns over rising antisemitic violence worldwide. The wounded were rushed to hospitals across Sydney, while the incident sent shockwaves through Australia and beyond.
In a public statement, Viktor Orbán expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, saying he was deeply shocked by the attack and that Hungary stands with Jewish communities in Australia and around the world during Hanukkah.
Hungarian officials echoed these sentiments. János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, described the violence as part of a broader global trend driven by extremist ideologies and antisemitic hatred. Balázs Orbán, the Prime Minister’s Political Director, also extended condolences to the victims’ families and warned that uncontrolled migration poses growing security risks.
The Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities highlighted the symbolic cruelty of the attack, noting that Hanukkah represents hope, respect for life, and community unity. The organization expressed sympathy to the victims’ families and the Jewish community in Australia, emphasizing that such attacks revive painful historical memories of persecution faced by Jews worldwide.
The federation also praised a passerby who intervened during the attack, risking his own life to disarm one of the attackers and prevent further casualties, calling his actions a powerful example of moral courage and humanity.
The Bondi Beach shooting comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia following the outbreak of war in Gaza, underscoring growing fears among Jewish communities in the diaspora.