Name: National day of reflection commemorates Bondi terror attack victims
Uploaded: 2025-12-21T06:18:12.799Z
Duration: 4 min 11 s
Description: One week after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, a national day of reflection is underway honouring the 15 lives lost. Jewish leaders and dignitaries are addressing crowds amid floral tributes, sand memorials, music and ceremonies nationwide.

One week after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, a national day of reflection is underway honouring the 15 lives lost. Jewish leaders and dignitaries are addressing crowds amid floral tributes, sand memorials, music and ceremonies nationwide.

Bondi

The Bondi community marked one week since a terror attack disrupted a Hanukkah celebration, holding ceremonies to honor the 15 victims and support one another in grief. The tragedy has led to increased police presence in the area and prompted national leaders to announce a comprehensive review of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including AFP and ASIO, to assess their preparedness and coordination.

New South Wales Parliament is set to hold an emergency session to consider urgent reforms addressing hate speech, protests, gun laws, and terrorist expressions. While the Prime Minister has not supported a Royal Commission, the announced review will examine how agencies shared information and responded to the incident, as the community continues to seek healing and reassurance.

National day of reflection commemorates Bondi terror attack victims

Etched into the sand, a single word, a message of healing and hope. Love is never extinguished and light and spirit will prevail. Raw emotion as Bondi marks a difficult, painful milestone, one week since the joy of a Hanukkah celebration was shattered by hate-filled terror. Every Jew in this country, the entire Jewish community, whether it's here in Bondi, across our nation, you are part of the belonging story and the success of this country. Their loss is profound, but people here are taking comfort by being together. We're an amazingly strong community and nothing will break us. A special ceremony today paying tribute to the 15 victims, from 10-year-old Matilda to heroes like Boris and Sophia German and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleitman. SONG PLAYS A day of reflection before an evening of remembrance. While preparations are already underway to remove the memorial at Bondi Pavilion, this atrocity has left an indelible mark on our nation, our leaders now facing tough questions. The change has been irreversible and I think we stand at a crossroads. Where to from here? The Prime Minister is yet to back calls for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the atrocity, but Anthony Albanese has announced a sweeping review into Australia's federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including the AFP and ASIO. Their resources and powers will be examined to ensure they're in the best position to respond to what the PM calls our rapidly changing security environment. We need to look specifically at how the state-based agencies interacted with the Commonwealth agencies, what happened with ASIO, what information was shared, what were they doing in the Philippines, what were the circumstances relating to their trip and how did it affect us here in New South Wales? Tomorrow, the surviving accused gunman is expected to front court and New South Wales Parliament will sit an emergency session as the Premier pushes ahead with urgent reforms. Hate speech, protests, gun laws, terrorist slogans, terrorist chants, but this isn't the end of it and I just want to make it clear, in five, six, ten weeks' time, we just can't turn the page on this and pretend that it didn't exist and everybody goes back to normal. Our new normal looks like this. Extra police on the ground in Bondi, some carrying long-arm firearms as people come to pay their respects. The Commissioner insists there is no specific threat or heightened security alert. Instead, the presence of so many officers is to provide reassurance. There's a lot of police here and a lot of security now. So, I think it's safe. I hope it's safe. I feel safe, but sad. Tensions are already high. You're not welcome! You're not welcome! Get out! Get out, you piece of... A man wearing a keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, removed by police at Bondi. Please, sir, walk away. Thank you. At the site of the terror attack, people are bravely returning, walking over the very place where the horror unfolded. Residents are reclaiming this spot. They want it to stand for something better. It's a bridge to hope, a bridge to a brighter day. That will take time. More funerals will be held this week. Sydney's Jewish community grappling with grief that feels endless. John Paul Gonzo, 10 News.

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