Labour has been urged to “return all donations” made by donor Dale Vince after he drew links between the Bondi Beach attack and Israel’s actions in Gaza.
A total of 15 people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl and a British-born rabbi, and dozens injured following the shooting which took place during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Australia on Sunday.
In response to the massacre, Ecotricity founder Mr Vince, who has donated more than £6.3million to Labour since 2014, wrote to X: “Commenting on the shootings in Australia today Netanyahu [Israel’s Prime Minister] said – Antisemitism spreads when leaders stay silent.
“Nothing to do with Isreal committing Genocide in Palestine then. Netanyahu wants antisemitism to be a thing, it validates him – he acts to make it so.”
His comments sparked criticism from Conservative Party bigwigs, among them was chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who called on Labour to return “all donations” from the mega-donor.
Mr Hollinrake wrote to X: “This is disgraceful. Any language that excuses or legitimises terrorism gives extremists cover and undermines our values.
“Labour must return all donations received from Mr Vince, refuse future ones, and make clear that terrorism has no moral ambiguity.”
GB News understands that Dale Vince is not a member of the Labour Party nor is he a current donor. All future donations will be considered on a case by case basis.
Dale Vince | GETTYA Labour Party spokesman said: “We are absolutely clear that the antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event at Bondi beach is sickening.
“There can never and should never be any excuses made for barbaric acts of terrorism. The Labour Government and the whole Labour movement stands with the Jewish community in Australia, in the UK, and around the world at this awful time.
“Both before and since we entered government, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has made tackling antisemitism a key priority and this crucial work will continue so that Jews living at home and abroad can live safely, without fear of violence or prejudice.”
Mr Vince today stressed that he had “not intended to excuse or legitimate terrorism or any form of racism” with his remarks, branding the Bondi Beach attack an “atrocity”.
Two gunmen opened fire at Bondi beach during Jewish celebrations | X“My words are aimed at the intervention of Netanyahu who in my opinion overlooks the impacts of his own terrorism,” he said.
“If antisemitism is rising in the world today then surely on any rational analysis, the biggest single cause of that will be the genocide in Palestine. I condemn all acts of violence and all forms of racism.”
Mr Vince’s remarks followed the deadly attack in Sydney’s Bondi area, which reignited global debate over extremism, misinformation and the risks of drawing premature conclusions after acts of mass violence.
His comments came amid heightened sensitivity within Jewish communities, as leaders and advocacy groups warn of a sustained rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia, the UK and elsewhere since the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza war.
