After October 7 and Bondi massacre, seven Australian friends answered Israel's call to serve

Seven Australian friends from Sydney, motivated by the October 7 attack and the Bondi Beach massacre, enlisted as lone soldiers in the IDF's Nahal Brigade. They received their berets at a Masa Kumta ceremony. The article details their motivations, the impact of the Bondi attack, rising antisemitism in Australia, and the soldiers' decision to stay in Israel.

Seven friends from Sydney, Australia, who had spent a year in Israel, decided to enlist as lone soldiers in the IDF's Nahal Brigade. They received their berets at a Masa Kumta ceremony, marking the end of their combat training. The soldiers were motivated by the October 7 attack and the December 14, 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack, which killed 15 people. The article highlights their sense of helplessness in Sydney and their decision to serve. It also discusses the rise in antisemitism in Australia, citing 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents recorded by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and the government's Royal Commission on Antisemitism. The soldiers express little desire to return to Australia, citing antisemitism and a lack of connection. Their families remain in Australia, and they face the challenges of being lone soldiers, but they feel a strong connection to the Jewish people and Israel.