Alex Ryvchin, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), attends the funeral of Matilda, 10, who was killed during the mass shooting at Bondi beach on Sunday, in Sydney, Australia, on December 18. — Reuters
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday promised new laws targeting hate speech and radicalisation following the deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, as the youngest of 15 victims was laid to rest.
Ten-year-old Matilda, whose middle name was Bee, was remembered as a “ray of sunshine” who loved animals and dancing. Yellow toy bees adorned her coffin, and attendees wore bee-themed stickers, toys, and balloons in her memory. The family has requested that her surname not be published.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman described the attack as “tragic, so totally cruel, unfathomable,” adding that Matilda’s murder felt personal to all. “Matilda grew up like a child would, loving what children love. She loved the outdoors, animals. She went to school, she had friends, everybody loved her,” he said.
The attack on Sunday, allegedly carried out by a father-and-son duo, occurred as hundreds gathered for the Jewish festival. Authorities say the incident appears to have been inspired by Islamic State ideology and has intensified concerns about rising antisemitism in the country.
Two gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing atleast 11 people and wounding multiple others in a “terrorist incident” aimed at a gathering for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in Australia. Emergency responders rushed almost 29 people to local hospitals from the beach, one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia’s largest city, said New South Wales police.
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A long line of mourners waited outside the eastern Sydney hall where the funeral was held, with many watching the service on screens outside. Some attendees expressed anger at what they called inadequate government action against antisemitism. “It’s like your heart’s been ripped out… Antisemitism has now been brewing in Australia for over two years,” said Jae Glover, 25.
As Matilda’s small white coffin was carried to a hearse, mourners gathered to say their final goodbyes. “As the coffin was driving away, I was just whispering, ‘I’m so sorry, my baby,’ because I have five babies. We failed this baby,” said Chana Friedman, 37. Elena Marguleva described the service as “heartbreaking and devastating” and said she had been unable to eat or sleep since the attack.
Read More: Australia charges alleged Bondi Beach gunman with murder, terrorism
The funeral follows services for Rabbis Schlanger and Levitan, other victims of the attack. Meanwhile, authorities continue investigating, including a Sydney man charged over alleged antisemitic threats on a flight to Bali, and denying claims that the suspects received military training in the Philippines during a November visit.
Prime Minister Albanese said the government would introduce new legislation to combat hate speech and radicalisation, signalling a renewed focus on national security and protection of minority communities in Australia.
