Hanukkah Massacre Theories

Hi Global Recap readers,

You’ve likely already heard about the terrorist attack in Australia.

For me, this is especially heartbreaking as I am a frequent visitor the country and have many close friends there.

For those who haven’t followed the details yet, I’ve put together a brief rundown of the attack, along with the main theories and controversies now circulating around it. 👇🏼

(This is still a developing story and information presented may be outdated)

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA
Bondi Massacre Terrorists
Visited the Philippines

Quick Context

• On Sunday (Australia time), a father and son opened fire on families during a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 16 people and injuring at least 40.

  • The father, Sajid Akram (50), was shot dead at the scene.

  • The son, Naveed Akram (24), was hospitalized afterward and still being treated as of today.

• By Tuesday police said the younger man’s vehicle also held improvised explosive devices and two homemade ISIS flags, and that both suspects had traveled to the Philippines last month.

  • Some are speculating that the duo got military training in the Philippines to prepare for the attack.

• The duo allegedly told their family that they were going fishing for the weekend.

• The father legally held a firearms license and had six registered weapons, which is now fueling a political push to tighten licensing rules and limit how many guns one person can legally hold.

• A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, was filmed tackling and disarming one attacker, and PM Albanese later called him "a true Australian hero."

Theories

This is where things become more complicated.

• As with many issues like this, numerous pro-Palestine accounts online have denied the incident, claiming it was a false flag operation carried out by Israel.

• Conversely, others are using the attack as a tipping point to argue for stricter immigration and refugee policies aimed at preventing entry by radical Islamists.

What is particularly concerning is that both sides began making wild claims even before any reliable information about the situation was available (I was online when the news first broke).

Claim 1. Some are claiming that the terrorists were shooting indiscriminately, rather than specifically targeting Jews.

Claim 2. Skeptics also claim that the younger shooter appeared highly proficient in handling the rifle, which they equate with professional training by Israel’s Mossad.

Claim 3. Theorists also argue that the presence of Arsen Ostrovsky, a prominent Israeli human rights lawyer, who "happened" to be at the scene, is evidence that Israel was behind the incident.

Claim 4. This is less a "theory" than a recurring narrative online: commentators point to Ahmed al Ahmed, the Muslim man hailed as a "hero" for tackling one of the terrorists, as proof that Muslims are the "good ones," while casting "Zionists" as responsible for the killing of Gazans.

To counter this, others are also claiming that he is actually a Christian, despite many reports pointing out that he is indeed a Muslim.

Controversies

1. Australian PM Albanese released an initial statement regarding the terrorist attack. However, he did not mention that the victims were members of the Jewish community attending a Hanukkah event. This omission prompted backlash, with many claiming that it was deliberate, intended to avoid drawing attention to his administration’s recognition of a Palestinian state on September 21, 2025.

2. Critics also allege that witnesses reported female officers hiding during the attack, with one officer reportedly caught on camera attempting to avoid approaching the shooter while her male colleague is trying to convince her to go.

Closing

There is still not enough verified information to draw definitive conclusions about the theories and controversies above. But that hasn’t stopped many from doubling down on their existing positions—whether on:

• female officers in policing

• radical Islamist ideology

• immigration

• multiculturalism

• or related issues.

I’ve gathered the most prominent narratives circulating online so you can follow the threads themselves. What you choose to believe is up to you, but please approach the claims spreading online with caution.

🇺🇦 UKRAINE
First Time For Ukraine

Ukraine says it just pulled off a first, using underwater drones to severely damage a Russian Kilo-class submarine while it sat docked at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It claims the boat carried cruise-missile launchers for Kalibr, the kind Russia routinely fires at Ukrainian cities.

• Claim: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), working with the Navy, says the strike happened Monday, December 15, 2025, and calls it the first publicly acknowledged underwater-drone hit on a submarine.

• Target: The submarine was described as "Kilo-class diesel-electric" sub at Novorossiysk, a key Russian base on the Black Sea. Ukraine says it had four cruise-missile launchers onboard.

• Weapon: Ukraine says it used a system it calls “Sub Sea Baby,” part of a growing family of Ukrainian unmanned maritime weapons designed to travel long distances and detonate on contact near ships or infrastructure.

• Reality: Russia did not confirm the damage—with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet denying any harm to vessels at the base.

🇷🇺🇺🇦 RUSSIA & UKRAINE
Peace Plan Near Sign-Off?

U.S. administration officials say a U.S.-authored peace plan is "literally 90%" worked out after closed-door Berlin talks involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

• Progress: Officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, claiming eight-plus hours of negotiations produced consensus across a revised 20-point plan, and that Trump has received two briefings and is "pleased" with where things stand.

• Guarantees: This package is built around NATO-style "Article 5-like" security guarantee for Ukraine that would be "legally binding," likely requiring U.S. Senate sign-off, while explicitly excluding U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine.

• Tradeoffs: Ukraine is "likely not going to push" for NATO membership, officials said, framing that restraint as key to getting Russia to accept the security package. Zelenskyy publicly called the talks "not simple but productive," while warning territory is "a painful one."

• Rebuild: The plan also includes rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, with officials citing work by the World Bank and BlackRock on best practices, plus talk of creating a "transparent government" to support Ukraine’s recovery.

• Next: Officials floated additional negotiations soon, including a dinner in Berlin with European leaders and Zelenskyy, the possibility of Trump calling in, and potential meetings next weekend in the U.S., possibly in Miami.

🇬🇧 UNITED KINGDOM
Tech Deal Frozen

The U.S. has abruptly suspended implementation of the flagship US-UK technology pact, signed in September 2025.

• Timing: British officials confirmed today that the US suspended the deal "last week," months after it was signed at Chequers during President Trump’s state visit.

• Scope: The Technology Prosperity Deal was designed to deepen cooperation on A.I., quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy.

• Leverage: US negotiators were reportedly getting frustrated with U.K.'s "lack of willingness" address issues beyond tech, especially on "non-tariff barriers" like regulatory rules on food and industrial goods.

• Flashpoints: The U.S. has long wanted the U.K. to recognize U.S. food and agricultural standards, while also being critical of digital services tax imposed on U.S. tech companies.