The deadly incident at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday highlights the continued ability of global terrorist networks, including the so-called Islamic State, to influence and radicalise individuals far beyond their traditional areas of operation. Reports indicate that the attackers targeted a father and son attending a gathering marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
No matter how severe or indefensible the actions of the Israeli state may be, they can never excuse violence against innocent Jewish civilians. Media accounts suggest that the surviving attacker — whose father was killed by security forces at the scene — had previously come under scrutiny by Australian intelligence agencies for suspected links to IS, though no charges were brought. Both individuals are believed to have declared allegiance to the extremist group.
Extremist violence is not confined to Muslim-majority countries; it also poses a serious threat in non-Muslim societies. Organisations such as IS and Al Qaeda often exploit grievances, including the suffering of Muslims in places like Gaza, as well as memories of Western military interventions in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, to draw individuals into violent ideologies.
In Western and other non-Muslim countries, additional factors such as social exclusion, discrimination and racism can further contribute to radicalisation. Preventing attacks like the one in Sydney requires closer cooperation between Muslim and non-Muslim nations, alongside stronger counterterrorism coordination and effective programmes aimed at preventing radicalisation in the first place.
At the same time, the underlying drivers that fuel extremism — including mass killings in occupied Palestine and Israeli military actions in Lebanon and Syria — must be confronted. However, acts of terrorism should not be misused to undermine the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for their rights. Efforts by Israeli leaders to associate this attack with Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state rely on misleading narratives that need to be challenged.
Finally, such tragic incidents must not be exploited to promote Islamophobia or anti-immigrant sentiment. It is important to note that while the alleged attackers may have come from Muslim backgrounds, a Muslim migrant, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, also played a brave role by confronting one of the assailants. Australian officials have rightly praised him as a hero whose actions may have saved many lives.
