Families of the Bondi Beach massacre victims have issued a forceful demand for a comprehensive national investigation into Australia’s antisemitism crisis and systemic security failures. The appeal comes exactly two weeks after the December 14th terrorist attack that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.
Seventeen grieving families collectively addressed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese through an open letter, insisting on the immediate establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission. They seek examination of critical breakdowns in law enforcement, intelligence operations, and policy frameworks that enabled the deadly assault. The perpetrators, identified as father-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram, specifically targeted the Jewish community event, leaving dozens wounded in what authorities have classified as an antisemitic terrorist act.
The families articulated their demand with emotional intensity: “We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward.” They emphasized that their lost loved ones—parents, spouses, children, and grandparents—were celebrating the festival of light and joy in a public space that should have guaranteed safety.
Prime Minister Albanese has maintained resistance to federal-level inquiries, advocating instead for immediate action rather than “years for answers.” He expressed profound sympathy for the families while emphasizing his priority to “build unity and social cohesion” during this challenging period. The government has proposed a state-level royal commission led by New South Wales, where the tragedy occurred, alongside potential reforms to firearm regulations and hate speech laws.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reinforced the administration’s position, warning that a national commission could inadvertently platform extremist voices and revisit traumatic antisemitic incidents from recent years—a move he deemed counterproductive to national unity and security.
The victims’ families, supported by prominent Jewish community leaders and legal experts, dismissed these responses as insufficient. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, asserted that only a royal commission possesses the necessary coercive powers to uncover the truth and implement preventive measures. The families concluded their plea with a powerful statement: “You owe us answers. You owe us accountability. And you owe Australians the truth.”
Regarding the perpetrators, 50-year-old Sajid Akram—an Indian national who entered Australia on a 1998 visa—was fatally shot by police during the attack. His Australian-born son Naveed, 24, remains in custody facing multiple charges including terrorism, 15 counts of murder, and planting an explosive device with intent to harm. He has not yet entered a formal plea.