Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister condemns terrorist attack on Jews at Hannukah festival in Australia

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev said on December 14 that the appalling act of violence against the Jewish community during Hannukah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Australia must be unequivocally condemned.

Georgiev was responding on X to the terrorist attack in which two gunmen opened fire on a gathering of more than 1000 Jews who were attending a Hannukah By The Sea celebration on the Sydney beach, leaving at least 11 dead and many wounded.

In 2025, December 14 is the first day of Hannukah.

“I am deeply shocked by the distressing images from the shooting during the Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Australia. My thoughts are with all those affected and their families,” said Georgiev, who while deputy foreign minister in a previous government was Bulgaria’s first national co-ordinator against antisemitism.

Separately, in a post on Facebook on December 14, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that at the moment there were no reports of injured or harmed Bulgarian citizens in the Bondi Beach shootings.

The Shalom Organisation of the Jews in Bulgaria said in a post on Facebook that it categorically condemns this blatant act of violence and antisemitism, which once again denigrates a Jewish holiday.

“On behalf of the Bulgarian Jewish community, we express our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, although at this moment there is no consolation for their grief,” Shalom said.

“We are devastated. The international community must be united in protecting Jewish communities, which in recent years have encountered an unprecedented wave of antisemitism.

“We wish a speedy and full recovery to those injured in the terrorist attack. Hatred and terror must never triumph,” the Bulgarian Jewish organisation said.

European Council President António Costa said on X on December 14 that he was “deeply shocked by the horrific attack on those celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach”.

“My heart goes out to the victims and their families and friends. I stand in solidarity with Australia and the Jewish communities worldwide. Europe is united against antisemitism,” Costa said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she was shocked by the tragic attack at Bondi Beach.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Europe stands with Australia and Jewish communities everywhere. We are united against violence, antisemitism and hatred,” Von der Leyen said.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that she was deeply shocked by the distressing images from the shooting at the Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach in Australia.

“This appalling act of violence against the Jewish community must be unequivocally condemned,” Kallas said.

“My thoughts are with all those affected, their families, and the first responders who acted with courage. Australia is one of Europe’s closest friends, and we stand in full solidarity with the Australian people,” she said.