Name: Muted Christmas celebrations at Bondi amid grief, tight security
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T06:15:51.944Z
Duration: 2 min 27 s
Description: Christmas at Bondi this year was much more subdued. Thousands still visited the beach under a heavy police presence, as the community sought some joy after the terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community that left 15 people dead.

Christmas at Bondi this year was much more subdued. Thousands still visited the beach under a heavy police presence, as the community sought some joy after the terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community that left 15 people dead.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach has seen thousands return to its shores as the community seeks to reclaim a sense of normalcy following a terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and anti-Semitism. While the atmosphere remains subdued and security is heightened, locals emphasize unity and resilience, with New Year's Eve events cancelled out of respect for the Jewish community.

Authorities in New South Wales have implemented a two-week ban on protests, rallies, and marches across central Sydney and surrounding areas, following the passage of new laws. Community leaders and residents acknowledge the ongoing grief and exhaustion, but stress the importance of staying strong and supporting one another during this challenging period.

Muted Christmas celebrations at Bondi amid grief, tight security

It's about as Australian as it gets. This is soul food, we're all coming back to what makes us happy, giving us joy, it's a joyful time of year, hopefully people will celebrate with that in mind. But this year Bondi feels different. It's quite heavy, but it's also important to claim the beach back and to not let anybody take away our lifestyle here and what we love. They came in their thousands, the famous stretch of sand covered in towels and tents, as life and light shines through. It's good to see that the community is coming together and getting out there, yeah it was awful what happened but the community is sticking together and it's not going to change the Australian way. There are reminders everywhere of what happened, the heavy police presence impossible to ignore. We weren't really sure whether to come down or not but I think it's a safe space. The couple of days after it was so eerie here, now I think people are getting out a bit more, it's good for the atmosphere. While Bondi is returning to some sense of normal, celebrations here are still muted and it will stay that way for some time. New Year's Eve events at the beach have already been cancelled out of respect to the Jewish community. It's sobering every time we come down here at the moment, but look we're just trying to power on, be strong, be together, I think that's the main thing. Even the Prime Minister acknowledges Australia has changed. This Christmas is a different one because of the terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and anti-Semitism that we saw just 11 days ago. In New South Wales, the crackdown continues. The Police Commissioner has banned protests, rallies and marches for two weeks across central Sydney, the South West and North West. It comes after controversial new laws passed State Parliament. I know that they're extraordinary powers, we believe they are absolutely essential in keeping order and peace during this Christmas period. A time of reflection as the Jewish community grieves. We're mourning and we're worn out. So I think mainly people are just, they're quiet and they're exhausted. It's challenging times, there's no question about it, but we have the power within ourselves to overcome. We have it. John Paul Gonzo, 10 News.

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