Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised a Muslim man for his brave actions during a deadly attack in Sydney, Australia.
The incident happened at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, where gunmen opened fire on a crowd of people gathered to mark the Jewish festival. The shooting left many people dead and dozens wounded, shocking communities in Australia and around the world.
Amid the chaos, a 43‑year‑old local man named Ahmed al Ahmed acted with courage. Footage shared online shows him running toward one of the armed attackers and wrestling the weapon away. His quick response helped stop the gunman and likely prevented more casualties. Ahmed was shot twice during the confrontation and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Netanyahu spoke about the event at a government meeting, describing Ahmed as a “brave Muslim man” who stopped one of the attackers from killing more innocent people. The Israeli leader said Ahmed’s actions deserved praise. At the same time, Netanyahu criticized the Australian government, saying it had not done enough to prevent rising antisemitism before the attack.
World leaders and officials in Australia also thanked Ahmed for his bravery and condemned the violence. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack a hate‑filled act and expressed sorrow for the victims and their families. Many people have shared messages of support for Ahmed and his quick thinking under pressure.
The Sydney shooting has sparked a wider conversation about safety at public events and how communities can respond to prevent such tragedies in the future.
