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December 29, 2025

December 29, 2025

Bondi gunmen acted alone, no evidence they were part of militant cell, Australian police say

Two gunmen who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach earlier this month acted alone and there was "no evidence" they were part of a militant cell, police said on Tuesday.

Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram are alleged to have killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event on December 14, Australia's worst mass shooting in almost three decades that shocked the nation and led to immediate reforms of already strict gun laws.

Police have previously said the men were inspired by Islamic State, with home made flags of the militant group found in their car after the attack, and a month-long trip by the pair to a Philippines island previously plagued by militancy a major focus of investigation.

But on Tuesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there was no indication the men had received formal training on the November trip to Mindanao in the Philippines.

"There is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell, or were directed by others to carry out an attack," Barrett told a news conference.

She added the findings were an initial assessment, and authorities in Australia and the Philippines were continuing their investigation.

"I am not suggesting that they were there for tourism," she said, referring to the Philippines trip.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police during the attack, while his son Naveed, who was also shot by police, was charged with 59 offences after waking from a days-long coma earlier this month. Naveed Akram faces charges ranging from 15 counts of murder to terror and explosives offences.

Witnesses: Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in Bedouin community in West Bank

Rocks thrown by settlers at a home in the Bedouin community of Mukhmas, near Ramallah, on Monday night. Credit: Torat Tzedek

Rocks thrown by settlers at a home in the Bedouin community of Mukhmas, near Ramallah, on Monday night. Credit: Torat Tzedek

Witnesses say that Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the Bedouin community of Mukhmas near Ramallah late Monday night. According to one eyewitness, two people were evacuated from the site by the Red Crescent for medical treatment.

According to other witnesses, settlers hurled stones at an inhabited building, sprayed the area with pepper spray and beat at least one person with clubs. At least one vehicle was vandalized, they added.

"We opened the door and saw several settlers, maybe a little less than 10. They were masked, some with clubs," an Israeli activist who was at the scene told Haaretz.

"One of the residents went out the door and I lost contact with him; later I realized they had beaten him with clubs," the activist added. "The settlers pounded on the door, smashed a hole in it and started throwing stones through it. Every 30 seconds, they sprayed pepper spray through the hole in the door."

According to the activist, the attack lasted about 10 minutes. "At some point I peeked through the hole... Suddenly one of them sprayed me right in the eyes," he said, adding that the settlers later broke into the building and stole a phone and a wallet from one of the residents.

Pentagon announces $8.6 billion Boeing contract for F-15 jets for Israel

Boeing was given an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15 Israel Program, the Pentagon said on Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.

"This contract provides for the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft," the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon said the contract involved foreign military sales to Israel. The U.S. has long been by far the largest arms supplier to its closest Middle East ally.

Contract work will be performed in St. Louis, and was expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2035, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Trump after Netanyahu meeting: 'It would be horrible for Hamas if they don't disarm'

U.S. President Donald Trump said he supports Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said he thinks they will be "very successful" in keeping the "Peace in the Middle East."

Watch the live stream here:

"We decided to create a new convention, to award the Israel prize, we've never awarded it to a non-Israeli, we're going to award it this year to U.S. President Donald Trump."

Netanyahu invited Trump to Israel for Independence Day, "to reflect the overwhelming sentiment of Israelis across the spectrum. They appreciate what you've done to help Israel and to help a common battle against the terrorists and those who would destroy our civilization," he said.

When Trump was asked if he pushed Israel pull back from the Gaza Yellow Line border before Hamas disarms, he said he and Netanyahu "talked about disarmament, and they're going to be given a very short period of time to disarm, and we'll see how that works out....[withdrawal] is a separate subject."

Trump said that if Hamas doesn't disarm, "it would be horrible for them. Horrible. I don't want that to happen, but they made an agreement that they were going to disarm and you couldn't blame Israel."

Trump said that 59 countries are part of the agreement securing the cease-fire. "They want to go in and wipe out Hamas. They don't want Israel. They don't need Israel. They want to do it because it's the right thing to do. They were for the deal based on the fact that Hamas pledged – they swore – that they were going to disarm. Now, if they're not going to disarm, those same countries will wipe out Hamas."

On the possibility of the Palestinian Authority taking over the governance of the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said that "President Trump clearly put the conditions of reform that he wants to see in the Palestinian Authority for them to be involved. Real reforms, not just perfunctory reforms. Change pay-to-slay, change the curriculum in your textbooks, open up a different society and a different future."

Speaking on the possibility of relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other locations in the world, Trump said that he was told Monday that "half of Gaza would leave. I've always said it. I said that if they were given the opportunity to live in a better climate, they would move. They're there because they sort of have to be. I think it would be a great opportunity, but let's see if that opportunity presents itself."

Speaking about violence carried out by settlers in the West Bank, Trump said that they "had a discussion, ... and I wouldn't say we agree on the West Bank 100%, but we'll come to a conclusion on the West Bank. He will do the right thing."

Trump also said that he respects Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "and Bibi respects him. They're not gonna have a problem," he added.

The U.S. President also said that he is not concerned about what Israel is doing in regards to the cease-fire in Gaza. "They've lived up to the plan. Sometimes they don't understand when somebody violates something that you want to give them a second chance. Well, we'll give them a couple of second chances, but no. Israel's lived up to the plan 100%," he said.

Regarding Iran's efforts to rebuild its nuclear capabilities, Trump said that if they are, "we're going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup. So I hope Iran is not trying to build up as I've been reading that they're building up weapons and other things, and if they are, they're not using the sites that we obliterated, but they're using possibly different sites we know exactly where they're going, what they're doing," he said, threatening to use the B2 bomber to strike Iran again. He also said Iran "knows the consequences, they will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time."

Regarding Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa, Trump said that "he respects the new president, he's a very strong guy. you cant put a choir boy or someone who's a perfect person. We get along with him great, i cant ask for anything more. We had that mishap with ISIS and he was fighting them. I'm sure Israel and him will get along. I'll try to make sure that they get along."

Trump also said that Israel and Saudi Arabia "are getting along great," adding that at some point, the Saudis will sign the Abraham Accords, which he also said will soon be expanded. "Countries are already talking about it, they'll be expanded fairly quickly."

Netanyahu added that Israel's interest is to "have a peaceful border with Syria. We want to make sure the border area next to our border is safe, and we don't have terrorists or attacks. We also want to secure our Druze friends, he said, adding that Christian communities should be protected as well.

Trump on Netanyahu and Syria: 'I hope they're going to get along'

U.S. President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday. Credit: Jim Watson / AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday. Credit: Jim Watson / AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "going to get along with Syria," adding that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is "working very hard to do a good job."

"I know he's a tough cookie, and you're not going to get a choir boy to lead Syria," the president added, adding, "I hope they're going to get along."

Trump does not rule out Turkish forces in Gaza: 'Turkey has been great'

U.S. President Donald Trump responded to a question on whether he would allow Turkish forces to be part of a reconstruction plan for Gaza, saying, "We're going to be talking about that. Turkey has been great," adding that he has "a great relationship" with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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