If there’s one thing Australia is known for, it’s beaches, laid-back summer vacations, and extremely strict firearm regulations. The attack that targeted Jewish people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach—a vast expanse of sand, surf, and open-air cafes merely four miles from Sydney’s center—hits at the core of all these things, all the aspects Australians assume will always be there.

At approximately 6:45 p.m., two individuals murdered 12 people and wounded at least 29 others. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers were specifically targeting Jewish attendees, apparently from a nearby Chabad group, who were holding a gathering at the beach. One witness stated that a perpetrator was clearing people aside before firing, indicating he had specific targets. One attacker was subdued when a bystander tackled him from behind and was subsequently arrested; the other was fatally shot.

This represents the most deadly shooting incident in Australia since a gunman killed 35 people at a well-known tourist spot in Tasmania in 1996. Following that tragedy, then-conservative Prime Minister John Howard implemented comprehensive firearm ownership reforms that are credited with preventing mass shootings in the country. Prior to December 14, there had been only one mass shooting—defined as an incident where more than four people, excluding the shooter, were killed by someone outside their family—in 29 years.

The reforms, which encompassed a firearm buyback program along with strict regulations on licensing, storage, and the categories of weapons individuals could possess, have become a source of national pride and have been further strengthened over the years. Even gun enthusiasts around gun ownership. The belief in safety that Australians held—that their schools, shopping centers, and beaches were virtually guaranteed to be weapon-free—has now been destroyed.

This is merely one of the harsh realities Australians will confront. A more complex problem is that the Australian Jewish population is being targeted. The community’s principle of equality, frequently summarized by the phrase “Jack’s as good as his master”—which signifies that social status or wealth shouldn’t determine how anyone is treated—is now being severely tested.

The section east of Sydney where the attack occurred has historically been recognized for its thriving Jewish population. North Bondi saw the establishment of the first Jewish kindergarten and Hebrew school in 1942, and many of the city’s top-rated schools are located in the adjacent suburbs. This area pioneered Sydney’s vibrant café and art gallery culture. The Central Synagogue, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, is situated in nearby Bondi Junction. Authorities reported that the Hanukkah celebration drew over 1,000 participants.

Although Sydney’s Jewish community has prospered, incidents of antisemitic graffiti and damage to vehicles, cemeteries, and houses of worship have increased, particularly since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. Australian public opinion has predominantly criticized Israeli military operations, and in September, moderate-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially declared his government’s recognition of Palestine. Following the shooting, he characterized the assault as “an act of evil antisemitism that has struck the heart of our nation.” However, it’s now unmistakably clear that public opposition to the war has overflowed into local neighborhoods.

The attackers’ willingness to execute the massacre on what’s arguably Australia’s most iconic and crowded beach indicates this was designed to attract national and possibly international focus. Bondi during the extended Christmas holiday resembles Rockefeller Center in New York during the same period—packed with individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds, particularly visitors, in a celebratory spirit. A bold attack at such a heavily frequented location is intended to create maximum shock and terror. It’s important to note this isn’t the first instance of an Australian participating in a faith-driven massacre; the individual who murdered 51 Muslims at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019, was raised approximately 400 miles north of Bondi.

The sole bright spot for Australians is the man who maneuvered between parked vehicles near one gunman’s position and . After securing the weapon, he aimed it at the fleeing attacker but chose not to shoot. Instead, he propped the firearm against a tree, both to signal to police that he wasn’t a threat and to demonstrate his desire to have no involvement with the weapon. Australia’s firearm regulations have demonstrated their effectiveness. Yet they cannot solve every problem. The nation must now confront its conscience.