On 18 December, the Islamic terrorist organisation ISIS released the 526th issue of its propaganda magazine Al-Naba. In this issue, the group openly praised the antisemitic massacre that targeted Jews at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

The editorial, titled “The Pride of Sydney”, portrayed the attack as an achievement and celebrated the terrorists involved. It described them as “heroes” and presented the bloodshed as an example to be followed in other parts of the world. Media accessed a copy of this article published in Al-Naba.

The editorial focused on the terror attack carried out against Jews who were celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach. It openly praised the terrorist who initiated the assault and framed the violence as a successful act aligned with ISIS ideology. The article shows how global jihadist networks use online propaganda to radicalise individuals and incite attacks against communities that do not conform to their extremist beliefs.

ISIS praised the terrorists behind the attack on Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, leaving no doubt about its ideological support. The group made no effort to hide its admiration. Instead, it glorified the massacre as proof that individuals inspired by ISIS propaganda can strike deep inside Western countries. This messaging reinforces how extremist content is used to promote violence far beyond conflict zones, a pattern long documented by counterterrorism agencies and researchers such as those referenced by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

ISIS Hails Sydney Attackers as ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lions’

Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, were identified as the father and son terrorist duo behind the Bondi Beach attack. The editorial praised them for killing 15 people and injuring several others. Although ISIS has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, the language used in the article leaves little doubt about the group’s ideological ownership of the violence.

In the editorial, the terrorists were repeatedly referred to as “heroes” and “lions”, with the massacre framed as a religiously justified act. It claimed that the attack represented adherence to what ISIS calls the “Prophetic methodology”. The article stressed that the outcome of an attack matters more than formal membership or documentation, a deliberate tactic designed to encourage decentralised terrorism without direct organisational links.

This approach reflects a well-known ISIS strategy. The organisation has consistently encouraged individuals radicalised through online content to act on their own. After such attacks, ISIS often claims ideological credit rather than acknowledging any direct operational involvement. This pattern has been highlighted in multiple analyses by Europol and global counterterrorism experts.

‘Jews Bleeding in the Streets of Australia’, ISIS Praises Hanukkah Massacre

Some of the most disturbing passages in the editorial include claims that Jews are now “bleeding in the streets of Australia” and that the Hanukkah celebration was turned into a “funeral”. The massacre was framed as a victory carried out by “zealous ones” who responded to ISIS calls to attack Jewish and Christian gatherings during religious festivals.

The article made it unmistakably clear that ISIS views Jewish religious events as deliberate targets. Synagogues, community gatherings, and festivals were portrayed as acceptable spaces for violence. This language exposes the deeply rooted genocidal intent within ISIS ideology. It also shows that the hatred directed at Jews is not incidental but ideological, theological, and firmly embedded in the group’s worldview.

Incitement Spreads Beyond Australia, Belgium Named as Next Target

The editorial did not stop at praising past violence. It went further by openly inciting Muslim refugees in Belgium to carry out similar attacks. ISIS urged them to “fight Jews and Christians in every street”, framing refugee status, asylum, and migration as tools that should be abandoned in favour of violent action.

Belgium, which has a sizeable migrant population, was singled out as a potential hotspot for future attacks. This has intensified concerns about Europe’s ongoing struggle to address Islamist radicalisation within its borders. Similar warnings have been raised in reports by Europol and Belgian security agencies, which have repeatedly flagged the risk posed by extremist networks exploiting migration routes.

Lone-Wolf Terrorism Projected as Impossible to Stop

Another central theme of the editorial was the promotion of lone-wolf terrorism. ISIS mocked Western intelligence agencies and claimed that modern jihad no longer relies on hierarchical command structures or funding networks.

According to the article, a single radicalised individual, driven by ideology and guided online, is enough to carry out mass murder. The Sydney massacre was repeatedly cited as evidence that decentralised terrorism is effective and difficult to prevent.

The editorial left no room for doubt. ISIS not only endorsed the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Australia but presented it as a model for future attacks across the world. This is not portrayed as a distant or isolated threat. Instead, it underlines how Islamist terrorism thrives on propaganda, tolerance of extremism, and denial. ISIS celebrating the Sydney massacre highlights the urgent need to confront extremist ideology directly, without hesitation or misplaced political correctness.

Bondi Beach Terror Attack

On 14 December, two terrorists, Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram, opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attack was among the deadliest terrorist incidents Australia has witnessed in decades. The antisemitic assault killed 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injured dozens more. Australian authorities formally declared the massacre a terrorist incident.

Details of the attack and the official response were reported by Australian media outlets and acknowledged by law enforcement agencies, reinforcing the scale and seriousness of the crime. The incident has since become a grim reference point in discussions about domestic security, online radicalisation, and the global reach of extremist propaganda.