First responders and heroes from the terrorist attack on Hanukkah in Bondi Beach, Australia, were met with a standing ovation as they entered the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday ahead of the Ashes Test cricket final.
After passing through the 48,000-strong crowd, they were met with a guard of honor from the English and Australian teams.
Among those present were civilian Ahmed Al Ahmed, who helped disarm one of the two terrorists, and Chaya Dadon, 14, who was shot in the leg after she rushed out from a bench she had been sheltering under and laid on top of two younger children to shield them.
Dadon, who walked onto the field on crutches, and Ahmed were joined by 12 intensive-care paramedics, New South Wales police officers, doctors, lifeguards, and nurses who were instrumental in responding to the terrorist attack. The announcer also thanked Community Health Support, Community Security Group, and Hatzalah for their work.
“Following the tragic terrorist attack targeting our Jewish community at Bondi Beach last month, we come together today to pay our respects to those who lost their lives, those who were injured, and to those who bravely acted in the face of great danger,” the announcer said.
The names of the 15 victims were projected onto the stadium’s screens with the words: “Forever in our hearts.”
Ahmed, Dadon, and the first responders were greeted by New South Wales Sports Minister Steve Kamper. The Australian team members shook hands with each of them.
Sports stars call for antisemitism royal commission after Bondi attack
Sports stars have been at the forefront of the call for a proper governmental response to the attack. On Sunday, more than 60 of Australia’s most prominent sports figures penned an open letter that called on the government to immediately establish a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre.
A wide cross-section of Australian leaders, including from law, national security, business, and public service, have joined with the victims’ families to publicly call for a Commonwealth royal commission into what happened, they wrote.
Despite multiple calls from the victims’ families, Australian politicians, and Australian rabbis for a royal commission of inquiry, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, at a press conference in Canberra last week, said it was “in the national interest to do the [internal] review on national security” instead.