US ‘strongly condemns’ deadly attack on Jewish festival in Sydney

The United States government has issued a forceful condemnation of the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack that claimed multiple lives during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the assault as a horrific act of violence targeting the Jewish community, emphasizing that “antisemitism has no place in this world” in his official statement on social media platform X.

In a significant diplomatic engagement, Secretary Rubio conducted an emergency telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to address the Bondi Beach tragedy directly. The State Department, through spokesman Tommy Pigott, confirmed that both nations are standing in solidarity with the victims’ families and the broader Jewish community affected by this devastating incident.

President Donald Trump briefly referenced the attack during White House Christmas festivities, explicitly identifying the violence as an antisemitic assault while expressing condolences to the Australian people. The coordinated American response underscores the gravity with which international authorities are treating this act of religiously-motivated terrorism.

The attack occurred during Hanukkah observances, a traditionally joyous Jewish festival, transforming a celebration of light into a scene of tragedy. Australian authorities continue their investigation into the precise motivations and circumstances surrounding the violence that shocked the global community.