Australia's Chanukah Attacked Killing 11; Brown University's Shooting of 2, and Thailand Attacked By Cambodia

 Nadene Goldfoot                                           

Location in metropolitan Sydney of Bondi Beach!  

Here we are about to celebrate the evening before the first day of Chanukah, and the first thing on the news was an attack in Australia of a Chanukah celebration by the sea being attacked with 11 Jews killed including the rabbi at Bondi Beach which is in Sydney! As of the latest reports, 29 people are in hospitals across Sydney following a shooting attack at Bondi Beach. Key details regarding those in hospital:

Two police officers were among the injured, with reports indicating they underwent surgery and were in a serious or critical condition. One of the suspected gunmen is also in custody and in critical condition in the hospital. One child was also among those taken to hospital. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia called the shooting on Bondi Beach a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration. At least one gunman is dead and another is in custody.

There was also a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island,  with 2 killed; unknown if Chanukah was involved, with a possible shooter being taken  into custody. 

• Eight people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island hospital, where seven were in critical but stable condition, Brown University president Christina Paxson said on Sunday. One person remains in a critical condition, she added. One student was discharged from hospital on Saturday night and left with their parents.

• Police released footage of the man they suspected to be behind the shooting late on Saturday, adding that some witnesses reported that the man, who could be in his 30s, may have been wearing a camouflage mask. The shooting happened inside a classroom.

• The shooting occurred in the Barus + Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. According to the university’s website, the building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices. Brown, one of the America’s most prestigious colleges, has roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.  

Update:  10:40am

• I remember that the TA reported the shooter yelling something before he shot his gun.  That's typical of Muslim terrorists. I'm wondering if he had any connections with a broader group planning an International Chanukah attack.  Did I hear right that the man taking down the Brown shooter was also a Muslim? I was right

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The bystander in a white T-shirt who disarmed one of the gunmen during a recent mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, has been identified by local media as Ahmed Al Ahmed. He is a 43-year-old fruit shop owner and has been widely hailed as a hero. 

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As I was telling my Thai friend about the attack in Australia, My friend,   just told me that Cambodia just attacked her country, Thailand, and it's over money according to her.  She has a 23 year old nephew who is a soldier fighting in it; showed me his picture.  So this brings the orient home closer when you have a friend being affected.  Through her accent, I think she said that they're not asking Trump for help; that they will fight their own battles.  I think her country is being very wise.  Here's the breakdown of this battle:   

• Trigger: Recent flare-ups intensified after a minor incident on December 8th, where Thai troops were reportedly fired upon by Cambodian forces in a disputed border zone.
• Escalation: Thailand responded with artillery and airstrikes, while Cambodia launched rocket barrages, damaging villages and injuring civilians.
• Ceasefire Failures: A Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire from July collapsed, with both nations blaming the other for violations, particularly concerning landmines.
• Impact: The fighting has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes on both sides of the border, disrupting education and creating a humanitarian crisis.
• International Response: The U.S. Embassy has issued security alerts for its citizens, urging caution near the border. 
• Israel and Thailand share a strong, multifaceted relationship built on tourism, labor (especially agriculture), defense tech, and development cooperation, but it's recently been complicated by the October 7th Hamas attack, which tragically impacted many Thai workers and highlighted regional security concerns, leading to increased defense deals like Thailand buying Israeli air defense systems, alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts. 
• Impact of October 7th Attack:
• Hamas attack killed 39 Thais and kidnapped 25, deeply affecting relations and prompting diplomatic focus on hostage recovery.
• Iran reportedly tried to leverage the situation by pressuring Thailand to recall workers in exchange for hostages. 
  

  The body of Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak was returned to Israel overnight, leaving the body of just one Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, still in Gaza.  He was 43 when he died.  Rinthalak was a hard working agricultural employee who came to Israel after his divorce "to find" himself.  His family has been informed and plans are underway to repatriate his body.  His body was returned after forensic experts completed identification efforts overnight.

• Resource:
• 12/15/25 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/15/man-who-tackled-alleged-bondi-gunman-couldnt-bear-to-see-people-dying-cousin-says-ntwnfb (comment on last sentence:  if he had to save a Jewish person, he wouldn't have;  Syrians are not  peaceful with Jews/Israelis except an exceptional one who may have Jewish relatives. )