We are unbreakable': defiance marks Bondi attack commemoration after PM is booed

"The president of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies, David Ossip, said it cannot be disputed that a federal royal commission was needed, to loud cheers and applause from the crowd of up to 15,000 people gathered at Bondi, where a minute's silence was held at 6.47pm, the time the attack began. Ossip's plea was echoed by the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion, who thanked Ossip for the courage to say it."

"When he welcomed Albanese, who was seated at the front, some members of the crowd booed. Albanese was also met with boos it appeared by the same members of the crowd when he arrived at the event. Just minutes after his arrival, the former prime minister John Howard took the same path to get to his seat. His arrival was met with cheers."

"He said Australian Jews had landed up in a dark place, but light can eliminate even the bleakest of places. Until two years ago, Australia was always the lucky country for Jews. But, sadly, no more. We have lost our innocence. Last week took our innocence. And, like the grass here at Bondi was stained with blood, so, too, has our nation been stained. But, he said: A single act of courage, a single flame of hope, can give us direction and point the path forward And that's what we have seen this week."

Jewish leaders called for a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack after an event that killed 15 people on the first day of Hanukah. David Ossip, president of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies, said a federal royal commission was needed as up to 15,000 people held a minute's silence at 6.47pm. Daniel Aghion of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry supported Ossip's plea. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed a NSW royal commission but resisted a national one. Some members of the crowd booed Albanese on arrival, while the arrival of former prime minister John Howard was met with cheers. Ossip praised the bravery of Ahmed Al-Ahmed and said the community had lost its innocence but that courage and hope could point the path forward.

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