Eva Geller, the Holocaust survivor shot at Bondi’s Hanukkah celebration, dies at 90 weeks before the anniversary

Eva Geller came to Australia from Hungary as a child, a survivor of the Holocaust who arrived with her mother and grandmother. Eighty years later she was shot at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s most famous beach.

Ms Geller, who had recently turned 90, died in a Sydney hospital overnight on Thursday, almost 11 months after two gunmen opened fire on the crowd at the Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park, Bondi Beach, on 14 December 2025. Fifteen people were killed that evening, among them a 10-year-old girl. Dozens more were wounded.

Her death was confirmed on Friday and drew a statement from the Prime Minister. Her funeral is expected next week.

What happened to her after the attack?

Ms Geller suffered serious leg injuries and spent much of the following year moving between hospital and home, latterly bedridden. Rabbi Aron Moss, who knew her, said she had been admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital a couple of weeks before she died and that she “never really recovered”.

He described a woman who kept smiling through her health problems and spoke of her “incredible strength”. Her late husband was also a Holocaust survivor.

What have the Prime Minister and police said?

Anthony Albanese said Ms Geller “should have been able to celebrate Chanukah in peace and safety”. He said that almost a year on, the attack was still causing pain for families, and that the government was supporting her family, her friends and the Jewish community.

NSW Police said they were aware of her death, were “awaiting further advice” and were working with the Coroner’s office. They have not said whether her death will lead to any change in the charges already laid.

Where does the criminal case stand?

Police allege the attack was carried out by a father and son, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, and say the pair were inspired by Islamic State. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene.

Naveed Akram was also shot and survived. He has been charged with offences including 15 counts of murder and a terrorism offence, and the case remains before the courts. The allegations have not been tested.

Why does her death matter now?

Ms Geller had survived the Holocaust as a child and was shot at 89 while celebrating a Jewish festival in her adopted country. For Sydney’s Jewish community, her death adds one more loss to a year of funerals, hospital stays and testimony, just as the city prepares to mark the anniversary.

It also comes as the national response to the attack nears its formal end point. The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell, has sat for 62 days and heard from more than 340 witnesses. Its final report is due on 18 December, a date chosen to fall after the anniversary so it does not overshadow memorial events.

How does Bondi compare with past attacks?

The Bondi attack is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in decades. The royal commission was set up in its aftermath to examine antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, and its report next month will be the government’s most significant formal response so far.