National Day of Reflection: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese booed at Bondi Beach sunset vigil

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been booed by a crowd of tens of thousands while arriving at a sunset vigil at Bondi Beach.

Up to 50,000 gathered at the iconic beach to take part in the National Day of Reflection and mark one week since the massacre — the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil.

Flags were lowered to half-mast on Sunday, the final and eighth day of Chanukah, to honour the 15 innocent victims killed in the shooting last Sunday evening.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip introduced dignitaries including Mr Albanese — who was met by boos from members of the crowd.

Mr Ossip paid tribute to those murdered and injured in the massacre, and said the Australian Jewish community had lost its innocence.

“In a more just world, we wouldn’t be gathered here this evening; we’d be at home with our loved ones having a barbecue or a swim, talking about The Ashes or out and about enjoying a summer’s evening at a time of year which so many of us treasure,” he said.

“Small children wouldn’t have had to say goodbye to their parents this week, wives had to say goodbye to their parents, or the parents of 10-year-old Matilda, their beloved daughter.

“In a more just world, we wouldn’t have had to explain to our children why a Chanukah gathering here at Bondi Beach was viciously attacked by monsters last week, purely for the reason that the attendees were Jewish.

“In a more just world, we wouldn’t be trying to pick up the pieces and understand how last week took place, how after two years of escalating antisemitism and warnings from the Jewish Community ... that lives were going to be lost, (but) the terrorist attacks still took place.”

He said the Jewish community was shocked but “not surprised”.

“We feared and suspected this moment was coming, and whilst a catastrophe such as that which we experienced last week would be a tragedy if it was unexpected, how much more tragic is it that the loss of life occurred despite all the warning signs being there,” he said.

“We need a Royal Commission which goes beyond New South Wales to get to the bottom of how this catastrophe took place, and that must include the Commonwealth.”

Mr Ossip passed a message from hero survivor, Ahmed al Ahmed, saying: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted today. I stand with you, my brothers and sisters.”

He said despite the tragedy, the community had seen “incredible manifestations of light” and mass outpourings of support from other Australians.

“The many thousands of Australians who have donated blood, and the snaking line of thank you and the snaking line of mourners who have waited at the vigil to pay tribute at Bondi Beach,” he said.

“We’ve seen the strength and resilience of the Jewish community, our community, who refuse to retreat or cower or become consumed by vengeance, but instead have become more determined to build back, bigger and better than before, prouder of who we are and more united.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns — who was met by an overwhelming cheer — said he was touched by the Australian Jewish community’s strength to “reclaim” Bondi Beach.

“Bondi is beautiful tonight, and not because of its beaches, it’s sunset, it’s people, it’s fun,” he said.

“It’s beautiful because you in your thousands, in your defiance, in your resistance and resolve, you have returned to these sands just seven days after a shocking crime, and have said to the terrorists, ‘We are going nowhere.’

“This crime was an attempt to marginalise, to intimidate and cause fear, but Jews have stood up to this intimidation for thousands of years.

“Tonight, thanks to the Jewish community of Australia, on this last night of Chanukah, you have reclaimed Bondi Beach for us.”

Mr Minns acknowledged the government had failed to protect its people, and said he would do “everything and anything we possibly can to stop it from happening again.”

He said the massacre highlighted a “deep vein of antisemitic hate in our community”.

“My heart is heavy for the lives that were taken here, for those who have been injured, and for the families and loved ones whose worlds will never be the same again I want to say this clearly and sincerely; ‘We are deeply sorry, we grieve with you,’” he said.

“I acknowledge that the government’s highest duty is to protect its citizens, and we did not do that one week ago.

“The weight of that reality weighs on me heavily, we must accept that responsibility.”