By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The deadly attack on a Jewish festival at a famed Australian beach has deepened diplomatic tensions between Prime ​Minister Anthony Albanese and his Israeli counterpart, as domestic pressure mounted for his ​government to respond to antisemitism.

Albanese called for unity on Monday and said his government was prepared to take whatever action is necessary, after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ⁠said Albanese "did nothing" to curb antisemitism, rising since 2023.

When she first started learning to ride a motorbike, Iranian Maryam Ghelich, now an instructor, would drive through Tehran's empty streets at night to avoid scrutiny over her clothing or lack of a licence.

Fifteen years on, Ghelich has trained hundreds of women, helping them navigate not only the capital's gridlocked streets but the barriers facing women motorcyclists in the conservative Islamic republic, with a marked surge in demand for lessons in recent months.

By Scott Murdoch and Christine Chen

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Stories of horror and heroism emerged as Australians mourned the 15 ​people killed by two gunmen at Sydney's Bondi Beach during ​a Hanukkahevent.

Police said two shooters, a father-son duo, opened fire on the crowd gathered for the Jewish festival beside the landmark Sydney beach ⁠late on Sunday, in the worst shooting in Australia in three decades.

The 50-year-old father was killed at the scene while his 24-year-old son was in a critical condition in hospital, police said.

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A Sydney fruit shop owner who ​wrestled a gun from one ​of the alleged attackers during the mass shooting at ⁠Bondi Beach is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand, his family ​said.

Forty-three-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed was identified on ‍social media as the ​bystander who hid behind parked cars before charging at the gunman from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground.

BEIJING, Dec 15 (Reuters) - China and Saudi Arabia agreed ​to have closer communication and ​coordination on regional and international issues, with Beijing lauding ⁠Riyadh's role in Middle East diplomacy, statements following a meeting between the nations' foreign ministers on Sunday ​showed.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on ‍a three-nation tour in ​the Middle East that began in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to end in Jordan. He met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince ⁠Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Riyadh on Sunday.

By Renju Jose and Lucy Craymer

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - ​Australian police said on Monday ​that the alleged offenders behind an attack at a ⁠Jewish celebration in Sydney's Bondi beach that killed 15 people, were a father and son duo. One ​of the gunmen was also killed, bringing ‍the death toll to ​16.

It was the country's worst gun attack in about 30 years.

The father, a 50-year old, was killed at the scene while his 24-year-old son was ⁠in critical condition in the hospital, the police said in the press conference on Monday.

SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - ​Australian police ​said on ⁠Monday that the alleged offenders behind ​the ‍attack at Sydney's ​Bondi beach were a father and ⁠son duo, and that they were not looking for a third ​offender.

Police said ⁠during ⁠a media briefing that investigations showed only two ‌offenders were ​responsible for the attack at a Jewish ‍holiday celebration that killed 16 ‌people and ‌injured 40.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; ⁠Editing by Nia Williams)

There has been no contact with Iranian Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi since her arrest at the end of last week, her supporters said Sunday, urging the Islamic republic to release the campaigner and dozens of others arrested alongside her.

Mohammadi, who won the 2023 Nobel prize, was detained Friday after addressing a memorial ceremony in the eastern city of Mashhad for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, who was found dead earlier this month.

JERUSALEM, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Sunday's ​deadly shooting at a Jewish ​holiday celebration in Sydney and said he had warned his Australian ⁠counterpart that the country's support for Palestinian statehood would fuel antisemitism.

Gunmen opened fire during an event marking the first night ​of Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach, killing at ‍least 11 people in what ​Australian officials described as a targeted antisemitic attack. One of the suspected gunmen was also killed.

Netanyahu said the shooting was "cold blooded murder".

JERUSALEM, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Sunday against ​a government push to oust the ​attorney general, who has sparred with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition ⁠over the legality of its policies, court documents showed.

In March, the cabinet held a no-confidence vote against Gali Baharav-Miara, citing substantial differences ​between the government and the attorney general, who was ‍appointed by the previous government.