• Funerals for victims of Sydney's Bondi Beach shooting begin as the nation mourns.
• Naveed Akram has been charged with 15 counts of murder and terrorism-related offenses.
• The attack, inspired by Islamic State, targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.
• Community outrage intensifies over rising antisemitism and government inaction.
• Political leaders pledge to tighten gun laws in response to the tragedy.

On December 17, funerals began in Sydney for victims of the deadly Bondi Beach shooting that claimed the lives of 15 people, marking Australia's worst mass shooting in three decades. The attack, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, has heightened fears of antisemitism and violent extremism across the nation, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The alleged perpetrators, father-and-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram, opened fire at the gathering, resulting in a devastating loss of life. Sajid was killed in a police shootout, while his son, Naveed, remains in a hospital under police guard after being shot himself. He is expected to face formal charges including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, which was confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.

Health authorities reported that approximately 22 individuals were hospitalized for injuries sustained during the attack, reflecting the tragedy's wide-reaching impact. The victims, primarily Jewish, included a 10-year-old girl, Matilda, and several Holocaust survivors, further underscoring the attack's deep emotional scars on the community, according to ABC News and NPR.

The outpouring of grief was palpable at the funerals, including that of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, known for his dedication to the Jewish community. He was involved in significant outreach work, often visiting prisons and public housing to support local Jewish individuals, highlighting his community engagement as something much valued by attendees, as described by Le Monde and ABC News.

The investigation revealed that Naveed Akram had previously come under scrutiny by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency in 2019 for alleged links to the Islamic State group. However, he was not deemed an imminent threat at the time. The Australian authorities are now scrutinizing whether more decisive measures could have been taken to prevent the attack, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

Amidst this tragedy, Prime Minister Albanese has faced mounting criticism for perceived inaction against rising antisemitism and the failure to prevent the attack. He has vowed to strengthen gun control measures, given that Sajid Akram legally obtained multiple weapons, a point raised by leaders and community members during this tumultuous period, as noted by BBC and ABC News.