Israeli ‘large scale operation’ to find last hostage
January 26, 2026 by Associated Press
Israel says its military is conducting a “large-scale operation” to locate the last hostage in the Gaza Strip as the United States and other mediators pressure Israel and Hamas to move into the next phase of their ceasefire. Read more
Senior Australian of the Year – Henry Brodaty
January 26, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Psychogeriatrician Henry Brodaty, who was awarded an OA by his country in 2000, has been named Senior Australian of the Year. Read more
2026 Australia Day Awards: The Jewish Recipients
January 25, 2026 by J-Wire
JWire congratulates all Jewish recipients of this year’s Australia Day Awards.
Holocaust descendants reunited amid troubled times
Descendants of a family separated by the Holocaust say finding each other has brought “sunshine” into their lives at a dark time for Jewish people worldwide. Read more
First ever Israeli bobsleigh team qualifies for Winter Olympics
January 25, 2026 by JNS
Israel’s bobsleigh team has qualified for the Winter Olympics for the first time, to be held next month at venues across Lombardy and northeastern Italy. Read more
KKL-JNF earmarks tens of millions of shekels for projects across Israel
January 25, 2026 by JNS
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has approved budgetary and planning measures totalling tens of millions of shekels to strengthen communities and enhance social resilience in the Galilee, the Negev and the “Gaza Envelope.” Read more
Our Guy: Israeli wheelchair tennis star aims for Grand Slam sweep
January 25, 2026 by JNS
Israeli tennis player Guy Sasson is on the cusp of one of Israel’s greatest sporting milestones. Read more
Memorial in the suburbs
January 25, 2026 by George Foster
Sydney’s Southern Sydney Synagogue hosted a communal gathering to live stream Chabad of Bondi’s “Light Will Win” memorial, marking thirty days since the tragic Bondi attack in which fifteen innocent people were murdered. Read more
Hamas-linked symbols sprayed on smashed Melbourne monuments on Day of Mourning
January 24, 2026 by Rob Klein
Damaged historic monuments in central Melbourne were defaced with symbols associated with Hamas on Australia’s National Day of Mourning, Thursday 22 January, sparking condemnation from political leaders and the Jewish community and prompting a police investigation.
Second teen arrested following antisemitic ute attack on Jewish boys in East St Kilda
January 24, 2026 by Rob Klein
On Friday, Victoria Police arrested a second teenage boy in connection with an antisemitic incident in which Jewish schoolboys were chased by a white ute in St Kilda East.
US pitches ‘New Gaza’ development plan at WEF
January 23, 2026 by Reuters
A US plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip, including residential towers, data centres and seaside resorts, was presented in Davos by Jared Kushner. Read more
Sydney Opera House memorial reclaims a national symbol after Bondi attack
January 23, 2026 by Rob Klein
Flags above the Sydney Harbour Bridge flew at half-mast last night as families of the victims, Jewish leaders and political figures gathered at the Sydney Opera House for a national memorial service marking the deaths of 15 people in the Bondi Beach antisemitic terror attack. Read more
‘Literally unbelievable’: families mourn Bondi victims
January 22, 2026 by AAP
It is impossible to put a timeline on when normal life can resume for those who lost loved ones in the Bondi massacre. Read more
Bondi terror attack is ‘a stain on our nation’, PM says
The deadly terror attack on a crowd celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach was an attack on the Australian way of life, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says. Read more
Faith leaders unite in shared grief after Bondi attack
January 22, 2026 by AAP
Religious leaders have gathered to deliver a message of hope as they mourned those killed in the Bondi massacre. Read more
New Zealand Holocaust commemorations as antisemitism surges
January 22, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
As New Zealand observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, January 27, the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand says that the “warning signs” of the 1945 atrocities are “again visible today.” Read more
‘Light will win’ on national day of mourning
January 22, 2026 by AAP J-Wire
NSW Premier Chris Minns has used the national day of mourning to thank the Jewish community for bringing the country together while still raw with grief from the Bondi terror attack.
PM shuts door on racial vilification laws after Bondi attack
Racial vilification laws called for by Jewish advocates are unlikely to be pursued after laws passed Parliament in response to the Bondi terror attack.
Heated debate in Knesset over death penalty for terrorists
January 21, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Israel’s Knesset National Security Committee on Tuesday advanced preparations for legislation that would expand the use of the death penalty for convicted terrorists, holding a charged debate that exposed deep divisions between security officials, legal authorities, lawmakers, and bereaved families. Read more
Neo-Nazi and Hizb ut-Tahrir target new hate speech laws
January 21, 2026 by AAP J-Wire
New hate speech laws are facing a potential legal challenge from a prominent neo-Nazi, just days after the legislation passed federal parliament.
Jewish leaders welcome new antisemitism legislation passed by federal parliament
January 21, 2026 by J-Wire News Service
Australia’s federal parliament has passed the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, with Jewish community leaders describing the legislation as an important and overdue response to rising antisemitism and extremist activity.
Events for National Day of Mourning – Thursday 22 January
January 21, 2026 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Australia will observe a National Day of Mourning on Thursday, 22 January, to honour the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack during a Chanukah celebration in December, with commemorations taking place nationwide and communities encouraged to take part in shared acts of remembrance and unity.
Police question Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich in ‘BibiLeaks’ investigation
January 20, 2026 by Pesach Benson
Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was summoned for police interrogation on Monday as part of an expanding investigation into the leak of classified military documents to a German newspaper. Read more
Hate crimes reforms secure bipartisan backing as parliament fast tracks laws after Bondi attack
January 20, 2026 by J-Wire with AAP
The federal government has secured crucial bipartisan backing for hate speech reforms, with the coalition declaring in principle support for legislation aimed at cracking down on antisemitism in the wake of the December 14 terrorist attack at a Jewish Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach.
Israel begins dismantling UNRWA’s Jerusalem headquarters
This morning (Tuesday), Israeli security forces began to evacuate and destroy the UNRWA (UN Relief Works Agency) headquarters on Ammunition Hill in northern Jerusalem. Read more
Jewish teenagers targeted in St Kilda East ute attack
January 20, 2026 by David Marlow
Just three days before the National Day of Mourning for the victims of last month’s antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, a group of Jewish teenage boys were targeted with an antisemitic attack by the occupants of a white ute.
Yarden Bibas marks slain son Kfir’s third birthday
Yarden Bibas, whose family became a symbol of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas kidnappings, has marked what would have been his murdered son’s third birthday with a wrenching Instagram post. Read more
Parliament honours 15 killed in Bondi Beach terror attack
Australia’s parliament fell into silence on Monday during a condolence motion in the House of Representatives, confronting the human cost of the antisemitic terror attack that killed 15 people at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025.
Holocaust Remembrance Day to focus on generational responsibility
January 19, 2026 by J-Wire News Service
Australia’s annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration will be held next Tuesday, 27 January, hosted by the Sydney Jewish Museum in partnership with the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants.
Australia to ‘respectfully’ consider Gaza board invite
January 19, 2026 by AAP
Anthony Albanese will consider an invitation from Donald Trump to join the US leader’s Gaza peace board. Read more
