Palestinians Lash Out at Muslim Who Helped Subdue Bondi Beach Jihadi, Brand Him a ‘Traitor’

Image: Jihad Watch

Palestinians have reportedly branded Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian man who risked his own life to disarm a gunman during the deadly Bondi massacre, as a “traitor,” sparking widespread controversy across Arab social media platforms.

Ramallah News, one of the most widely followed Palestinian news outlets, published a report on Sunday detailing Mr al-Ahmed’s actions during the attack. While the article acknowledged his role in confronting the attacker, the reaction it provoked online was swift, polarised, and in many cases deeply hostile.

The attack itself allegedly involved two gunmen — father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram — who are said to have stormed a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach marking the first night of Hanukkah. According to reports, the attackers killed 15 innocent people and injured dozens before police intervened and brought the assault to an end. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Amid the chaos, Mr al-Ahmed confronted Sajid Akram directly and managed to wrestle the firearm away from him, an act that likely prevented further loss of life. By placing himself in immediate danger, he acted instinctively to protect those around him, many of whom were complete strangers.

However, the coverage by Ramallah News was followed by a flood of reactions across Arab online communities, where Mr al-Ahmed was overwhelmingly criticised for intervening to save Jewish lives. An analysis conducted by Ahron Shapiro, a senior researcher with Palestinian Media Watch, reviewed approximately 1,000 comments posted under the article. According to the findings, around 75 per cent of the responses were unsupportive of Mr al-Ahmed, 20 per cent expressed support, and the remaining five per cent were neutral.

Many of the negative comments accused him of betrayal and disloyalty. “Treason comes from those closest to you,” one commenter wrote. Another claimed, “He sold himself and his life for the safety of the Jews.” Some comments were particularly disturbing in tone, with one user writing, “I wish the bullet had hit his heart.”

Others sought to undermine his motives, alleging that Mr al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Arab Muslim, acted out of financial self-interest rather than moral courage. “He played it right, he wants the money,” one comment read, while another claimed he had already received substantial rewards and had “acted manly in the wrong place.”

The hostility escalated further in some cases, with comments containing explicit threats and curses. “By Allah, we will chop you to pieces and leave no trace of you,” one user wrote. Another added, “May God send you a disease.” Such remarks underscored the intensity of the backlash and the dangerous rhetoric directed at Mr al-Ahmed.

Despite the overwhelming criticism, there were also voices that stood in stark contrast to the hostility. A number of commenters praised Mr al-Ahmed’s courage, describing him as a hero who acted selflessly to protect human life, regardless of religion or identity. One supporter referred to him as “a hero who defended his brothers,” highlighting that, for some, his actions transcended politics and sectarian divides.

The sharply divided reaction to Mr al-Ahmed’s bravery has exposed deep ideological fault lines, where an act of saving lives is interpreted not through the lens of humanity, but through entrenched political and religious animosities.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)