Australia announced in January 2026 it will hold a royal commission inquiry into the mass shooting that allegedly targeted Jews attending a Hanukkah celebration near Sydney's Bondi Beach. A photo of a woman marching at a pro-Palestinian rally surfaced in social media posts that misidentified her as the former judge appointed to lead the antisemitism inquiry.

For the first time since October 7, Australia has seen a major public outpouring of grief. The Bondi tragedy has drawn attention to the scale of government inaction, jolting the nation awake.

SYDNEY, ‌Jan ​8 (Reuters) - Australia ‌will hold a Royal ​Commission inquiry into the Bondi ‍Beach mass shooting ​in which ​15 ⁠were killed, the country's most powerful public inquiry, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.

After weeks of mounting pressure, the government has called a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. It must involve tackling uncomfortable issues.

Saeed Khan / AFP via Getty Images The deadly shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach follows a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks in the country since the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza.

Pauline Hanson won’t be in the debate that will run late tonight because she is banned from the Senate for warning about Islamist extremism.