Australia to Hold National Day of Mourning for Bondi Terror Victims

Australia will hold a national day of mourning on January 22 to honor the 15 people killed in an antisemitic terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.

Speaking at Parliament House, Albanese said the commemoration would serve as a national moment of remembrance and unity following the December 14 shooting, which targeted Jews attending a seaside Chanukah event and marked Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in 30 years.

“This will have a theme of ‘light will win,’ a gathering of unity and remembrance, which has been determined by the rabbi,” Albanese said. “Flags will be flown at half-mast in all Commonwealth buildings around Australia, and further details will be announced at the end of this week.”

Albanese said he consulted with Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, the senior rabbi of Chabad of Bondi, before confirming the date. Ulman lost his son-in-law, Eli Schlanger, who was among those killed in the attack. “He has shown extraordinary leadership for someone who has lost family members in that community,” Albanese said.

The government has not yet detailed what the day of mourning will include, and officials indicated it is unlikely to involve an additional public holiday, given the short notice. Further guidance is expected later this week.

In a statement, Chabad of Bondi said the gathering is intended to recognize the full scope of loss caused by the attack. “This gathering creates space to honour those who were lost, acknowledge those who were injured, and stand with their families and loved ones,” the organization said. “It is a moment to pause together, express care and solidarity, and reaffirm the values of compassion and faith that carry us forward.”

In the days following the attack, vigils and memorials were held across Sydney, as Jewish leaders and community members emphasized messages of resilience and unity. The theme “light will win” has been widely echoed in those gatherings, drawing on the symbolism of Chanukah.

Australia has declared national days of mourning only on rare occasions. The most recent was in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when a one-off public holiday was held. A national day of mourning was also observed in February 2010 to commemorate the victims of Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires.

Officials said the January 22 commemoration is intended as a national expression of solidarity with the victims’ families and the Jewish community, and as a clear statement against antisemitic violence.