Israel accuses Iran of hypocrisy after it condemns Sydney massacre without mentioning Jews

The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued an official condemnation of the terrorist attack in Australia without acknowledging that it specifically targeted Jews during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney. 

“Iran condemns the violent attack against civilians in Sydney, Australia. Terror violence and mass killing shall be condemned, wherever they're committed, as unlawful and criminal,” the foreign ministry in Tehran said in its official statement. Two Islamist terrorists murdered at least 15 Jews and injured some 40 people during the Hanukkah event at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Some of the injured remain in a critical condition. 

The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded by accusing Tehran of hypocrisy due to its involvement in many terrorist attacks against Jews and Israelis around the world. 

“The world record in deception belongs to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman. Iran has carried out deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews in the past and constantly seeks to murder Israelis and Jews around the world,” Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated. 

Australia has faced a surge in antisemitic violence since the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre in 2023. Israeli and Australian intelligence concluded that the Iranian regime was behind at least some of the antisemitic attacks on Australian soil. In August, Australia announced its decision to expel the Iranian ambassador to Australia due to Tehran’s involvement in terrorist attacks against Jews in Melbourne and Sydney. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed at the time that the Iranian regime is responsible for "extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression" and attempts to "undermine Australian cohesion."

"The Australian people want two things. They want killing in the Middle East to stop, and they don't want conflict in the Middle East brought here. Iran has sought to do just that," Albanese announced. "They have sought to harm and terrorise Jewish Australians and sow hatred and division in our community."

Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between Australia and Israel have deteriorated as a result of the Australian government’s harsh criticism of Israel’s self-defense military operations against the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza. In September, Australia unilaterally decided to recognize a Palestinian state, despite objections from Israel, which argues that the move constitutes a reward for the Oct. 7 massacre and Hamas terrorism. The Israeli government has warned for months that Australia’s Middle East policies, along with insufficient action at home, have encouraged antisemitism in the country.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, urging the Australian government to step up its efforts to combat antisemitism and protect the local Jewish community.

“The Australian government must act against the use of these antisemitic chants,” Sa’ar said, referring to slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “Globalize the intifada,” and “Death to the IDF.”

The Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon emphasized that the massacre of Jews in Sydney was preceded by two years of demonization of Jews and Israel. 

“The writing was on the wall. For two years, we have seen a meteoric rise in antisemitic incidents, along with a worsening in their nature. In the Australian intelligence chief’s national annual threat assessment, he spoke of a high probability of a terrorist attack. You can’t say this attack came out of the blue,” Maimon said in an interview with the Israeli news outlet Ynet News. 

However, the Israeli ambassador commended Australia for designating the Iranian ayatollah regime’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. 

“They didn’t just expel the ambassador. They also designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. Australia is only the third country to do so, after the United States and Israel,” Maimon said. 

Australian and Israeli intelligence services are currently assessing whether the Iranian regime was behind the antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney.

"In recent months, there has been a marked increase in activity by Iran and its proxies, the terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas, aimed at carrying out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide,” an Israeli intelligence official told Ynet News on condition of anonymity. 

“There is no doubt that the direction and infrastructure for the attack originated in Tehran,” the official assessed.