Washington, 17 December (H.S.):

US President Donald Trump opened the White House Hanukkah celebration on Tuesday evening by condemning the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, urging global unity against radical Islamic terrorism. The Islamic State-inspired shooting during a Hanukkah gathering killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, while injuring over 40 others.

Trump sent love and prayers to Australia, stating, We're joined in mourning all of those who were killed, and we're praying for the swift recovery of the wounded; some are very horrifically wounded. He vowed eternal support for the Jewish people, declaring, All nations must stand together against the evil forces of radical Islamic terrorism.

The attack unfolded on December 14 at Chanukah by the Sea, where suspects Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar from an overpass, firing on approximately 1,000 attendees.

Australian authorities confirmed the father-son duo's vehicle contained ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labeling it a deliberate assault on the Jewish community.

Sajid, a licensed gun owner originally from India who immigrated in 1998, was killed by police; Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, emerged from a coma and faces imminent charges after police questioning.

The pair had traveled to the Philippines in November, a detail under investigation.New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon praised responding officers, two of whom remain critically injured after engaging the gunmen with handguns against long-range rifles.

Amid national grief, funerals have begun for victims like Rabbi Schlanger, as leaders pledge the strictest gun reforms since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Trump hailed an unarmed bystander who disarmed one attacker, emphasizing resilience amid the tragedy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar