Australia Moves to Ban ‘Intifada’ Chants After Deadly Bondi Attack
Right now, a major debate is unfolding in Australia following the horrific shooting at Bondi Beach, an attack that shocked the country and reopened difficult conversations about extremism, protest language, and public safety. Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured when two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish festival near one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, marking the deadliest mass shooting the nation has seen in nearly 30 years.
In the days since the attack, the government of New South Wales has announced plans to crack down on what it calls hateful and dangerous slogans. At the center of this is the phrase “globalise the intifada,” which the state now plans to formally classify as hate speech. Premier Chris Minns has made it clear that the chant will be banned under stricter laws expected to be rushed through parliament.
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The word “intifada” itself has a long and complex history. It became widely known during Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation beginning in 1987. For some, the term is described as a call for resistance, including peaceful protest. For others, especially within Jewish communities, it is seen as a call to violence and even an incitement to harm Jewish people. That disagreement over meaning has now become a legal and political issue.
The Bondi attackers are believed to have been motivated by Islamic State ideology, and the attack has been officially designated as terrorism. In response, both state and federal governments have rolled out sweeping measures. These include tougher hate speech laws, expanded police powers to restrict protests, and tighter gun controls. A new national gun buyback scheme has also been announced, with hundreds of thousands of newly banned or illegal firearms expected to be collected and destroyed.
Premier Minns has also called for a Royal Commission into the attack and has suggested protest laws may be tightened to reduce large demonstrations, arguing that community tensions must be lowered. According to him, some rallies and slogans are believed to be “unleashing something” that cannot be controlled.
Meanwhile, the country has been mourning. Tributes have poured in from across Australia. Lifeguards lined up shoulder to shoulder along Bondi’s shoreline, surfers formed a giant circle in the water, and volunteers who rushed to help during the attack have been praised as heroes. One lifeguard was seen sprinting across sand with a medical kit as chaos unfolded.
A national day of reflection is now being held, marked by a minute’s silence, flags at half-mast, and candles lit in windows across the country. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, it is meant to be a pause to honor the victims and to reaffirm a message many Australians are holding onto right now: that hatred and violence will not be allowed to define who they are.
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