Israel on Monday doubted Iran's condemnation of a deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday event in Sydney, accusing Tehran of deadly plots toward Jews worldwide as Australian authorities investigate the attack and assess possible external involvement.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein dismissed Iran’s statement, saying: “The world record in deception belongs to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman."
"Iran has carried out deadly terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews in the past and constantly seeks to murder Israelis and Jews around the world.”
No public evidence links Iran or any foreign element to the attack.
Israel’s response came after Iran’s foreign ministry issued a formal denunciation of the shooting at a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where at least 11 people were killed and 29 wounded, according to Australian police.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei had said in a post on X on Sunday that "terror violence and mass killing shall be condemned, wherever they're committed, as unlawful and criminal."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar earlier spoke with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, after the attack, which Canberra has designated a terrorist incident. Wong told Sa’ar that Australia was determined to apprehend all those involved.
Sa’ar urged Australia to take stronger measures against antisemitism, telling Wong that since October 7 there had been a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in the country, including violent incitement online and in public spaces.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said Israeli officials were closely watching the investigation.
“The writing was on the wall,” he told Ynet, citing a rise in antisemitic incidents and prior intelligence warnings of a high likelihood of an attack.
He said Australian authorities were examining whether an external actor may have been involved, amid a growing assessment in Israel pointing to Iran.
“From the video footage I received, it appears the terrorists studied the area. They fired from a distance and used long-barreled weapons,” Maimon said, adding that Australian investigators were still processing information.
Australian police said one suspected attacker was killed, another was in critical condition and a third may have been involved. Several suspected explosive devices were found and neutralized near the scene.
Iran has not commented on Israel’s response. Australian authorities have said their investigation is ongoing and have not publicly named any foreign state as responsible.
