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Australia
observed a moment of silence on Sunday (21/12) to remember the victims of the firearm attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney last week.The country on the world’s smallest continent flew flags at half-mast on buildings, while television and radio networks paused for a minute.
A moment of silence was observed at 18.47 (0747 GMT), the time the attack began.At that time two gunmen shot at people during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.
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Tens of thousands of people, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and other leaders, attended the commemoration event at Bondi Beach under heavy police supervision including snipers on rooftops and police boats in the water.
Albanese was booed by the crowd upon arrival, and when speakers mentioned his name during the memorial service.He sat in the front row wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish hat.
Albanese, who is under pressure from critics who say his center-left government has not done enough to curb a surge in antisemitism since the start of the war in Gaza, is not scheduled to speak at the event.
“We have lost our innocence … last week has robbed us of our innocence,” said David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Representative Council, in his speech to kick off the event.
“As the grass in Bondi is stained with blood, so our nation has been stained. We have been in a dark place. But, friends, Hanukkah teaches us that light can illuminate even the bleakest of places. One act of courage, one flame of hope, can give us direction and show us the way forward,” said Ossip.
Also present at the memorial event was the father of Ahmed al Ahmed, who was hailed as a ‘Hero of Bondi’ for snatching a weapon from one of the attackers.
“Ahmed asked me to convey the following message to all of us: ‘God is close to the brokenhearted. Today I stand with you, my brothers and sisters,'” said Ossip.
Authorities invited Australians to light candles on Sunday evening, the start of the eighth and final day of the Jewish festival.
(fea)
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