A 90-year-old woman who was shot during the Bondi Beach attack in December has died in a Sydney hospital, almost a year after the mass shooting that shocked Australia. Eva Geller, a Holocaust survivor, was among the dozens seriously injured when two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach on 14 December. The attack claimed 15 lives, including a ten-year-old girl.
A Life of Resilience
Rabbi Aron Moss of the Nefesh Synagogue remembered Geller as a woman who remained "positive, loving, and strong throughout her life, right until the end." Geller escaped the Holocaust as a child and eventually settled in Australia, where she built a family and a community around her.
Despite her injuries, which required regular hospital treatment, Geller's determination never wavered. Rabbi Moss recounted how she was told she would never walk again after the shooting, but through sheer willpower, she proved doctors wrong. "She came to shul this past High Holidays with an incredible show of strength," he said.
National Outpouring of Grief
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences, stating that the country would never forget those who "continue to carry the pain" of last year's attacks. The Bondi Beach shooting was Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly three decades and led to sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech.
One of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, was arrested and charged with 15 counts of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder, and one count of committing a terrorist act. He remains before the courts. Police have not indicated whether further charges will be filed following Geller's death.
Community in Mourning
New South Wales police confirmed they are aware of Geller's death and are working with the Coroner's office. The community is left to mourn a woman whose life was marked by survival and strength, and whose final year was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Geller's passing serves as a somber reminder of the lasting impact of the Bondi Beach tragedy, which continues to reverberate through the nation. As Australia grapples with the aftermath, the memory of Eva Geller and her unwavering spirit will not be forgotten.
