Bondi Beach Attack Death Toll Rises to 16 as Holocaust Survivor Eva Geller Dies

Eva Geller, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who was shot during the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney last December, has died in hospital — almost a year after the shooting that shocked Australia.

Geller died on Thursday night in a Sydney hospital, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry confirmed. She had spent months in and out of hospital with complications from her wounds and had been admitted several times in recent weeks. Her death takes the toll from the Bondi Beach massacre to 16 people.

She was one of around 40 people wounded when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025. Fifteen people, aged from 10 to 87, were killed that day. It was Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years.

Who was Eva Geller?

Geller was born in 1936 and survived the Holocaust as a young child. She later made a new life in Australia, where she raised a large family. She was a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a regular at the Nefesh Synagogue in Bondi.

Rabbi Aron Moss, of the Nefesh Synagogue, said Geller had been “strong and pretty healthy right up until the Bondi attack where she was shot.”

“She’s a proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother. A beautiful, positive person who even in these difficult months maintained her positivity,” Moss said, speaking on the family’s behalf.

Doctors told Geller after the shooting that she would never walk again. But through sheer determination, she got back up and walked again — with the help of a cane. She even lived to celebrate her 90th birthday.

“She was told after being shot that she will never walk again by the doctors,” Moss said. “But through sheer determination, she got back up, and she did walk again.”

Moss said Geller had “just made it to her 90th birthday and showed incredible strength.” In her final weeks, she was back in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, where she had been treated for her wounds.

Her funeral is scheduled for Monday, according to Australian media.

What happened at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025?

On 14 December 2025, a crowd had gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney for a Hanukkah celebration — a Jewish festival of lights. Two gunmen opened fire on the crowd in what Australian police described as an antisemitic terrorist attack.

The two alleged gunmen were Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram. Police say the pair were inspired by the Islamic State group. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene. His son survived and was arrested.

Fifteen people were killed and around 40 were wounded. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87. The attack was Australia’s worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, in which 35 people were killed.

The shooting happened at one of Australia’s most famous beaches, on a summer day, in front of families celebrating a religious festival. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday usually celebrated in December. The Bondi gathering was a public community celebration, held outdoors on the beach. It left the country’s Jewish community — and the wider public — in shock, and it led to a national debate about antisemitism and safety in Australia.

The court case against Naveed Akram

Naveed Akram, 25, has been charged with 15 counts of murder, 43 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. He has yet to enter a plea.

It is not yet clear whether Geller’s death will change the charges he faces. New South Wales police said they were aware of her death and were awaiting further advice while working with the office of the coroner, who will investigate the circumstances of her death.

Akram is due back in court on 24 February, when prosecutors expect to finalise which charges will go to the New South Wales Supreme Court for trial.

The case is one of the most closely watched criminal cases in Australia. If Geller’s death is formally linked to the shooting, it could add to the charges — but that decision rests with the coroner and prosecutors, and no decision has been announced yet.

Reactions in Australia

Australia’s leaders paid tribute to Geller and her family on Friday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was saddened by her death. “Eva should have been able to celebrate Chanukah in peace and safety and instead, her life was changed forever by an act of terror and antisemitism,” he said in a statement.

“Almost a year on, the devastation of that awful day continues to cause pain for families, and today we recognize that more than ever. We are wrapping our arms around Eva’s family, friends and the Jewish community at this very sad time.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also offered his condolences. “After everything Geller endured, the news of her death is heartbreaking,” he said in a statement.

“Almost a year on, we are still living with the pain and aftershock of that evil act. We will never forget Eva or any victim whose life was changed forever,” Minns added.

Arsen Ostrovsky, an Australian-Israeli human-rights lawyer who survived the attack, mourned Geller’s death on Friday, calling her the 16th victim of the massacre.

An inquiry due to report in December

After the attack, the Australian government set up a government-backed inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion. The inquiry is due to hand down its final report on 18 December — just days after the first anniversary of the shooting.

The inquiry was called in the wake of the massacre to examine antisemitism in Australia and what can be done to make Jewish Australians safer. Its findings are expected to be closely watched, coming so soon after Geller’s death and the anniversary of the attack.

What happens next?

Geller’s funeral takes place on Monday. In the weeks that follow, attention will turn to the inquiry’s report on 18 December and to the court case against Naveed Akram, who returns to court in February.

For the families of the victims, the pain has not faded. As Premier Minns put it, Australia is “still living with the pain and aftershock of that evil act” almost a year later. Geller’s death is a reminder that the toll of a mass shooting is not fixed on the day it happens — it can keep growing, months later, as survivors live with their wounds.

Geller survived the Holocaust as a child, built a new life in Australia, and raised a large family. She survived being shot at Bondi Beach, learned to walk again, and reached her 90th birthday. Her death, nearly a year after the attack, closes a life marked by extraordinary resilience — and leaves Australia counting one more victim of a day it has not forgotten.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Eva Geller?

Eva Geller was a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who lived in Sydney, Australia. She was shot and wounded during the Bondi Beach attack on 14 December 2025 and died in hospital on 5 November 2026, almost a year later, after months of complications from her wounds.

How many people died in the Bondi Beach attack?

Fifteen people were killed on the day of the attack, 14 December 2025, and around 40 were wounded. Eva Geller’s death brings the total death toll to 16.

Why is the death toll now 16 if 15 people died on the day?

Fifteen people were killed during the attack itself. Eva Geller survived the shooting but never fully recovered from her wounds. She spent months in and out of hospital and died on 5 November 2026, almost 11 months later. Her death is counted as a 16th victim of the attack, although police and the coroner are still examining the circumstances of her death.

What happened at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025?

Two gunmen opened fire on a crowd at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Police described it as an antisemitic terrorist attack and said the gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State group. One gunman, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, survived and faces murder and terrorism charges.

Who is Naveed Akram and what is he charged with?

Naveed Akram, 25, is the surviving alleged gunman. He has been charged with 15 counts of murder, 43 counts of attempted murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. He has yet to enter a plea and is due back in court on 24 February.

What is the inquiry into the attack?

After the attack, the Australian government set up an inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion. It is due to publish its final report on 18 December 2026, just after the first anniversary of the shooting.

Sources

• Associated Press (via Reflector) — “90-year-old Holocaust survivor dies almost a year after being shot in the Sydney Hanukkah massacre” (6 November 2026): https://www.reflector.com/news/national/90-year-old-holocaust-survivor-dies-almost-a-year-after-being-shot-in-the-sydney/article_9b63039f-6a1a-517b-b134-c22da32e88a7.html
• ABC News (via Europe Says) — “Eva Geller, 90, dies after year-long battle with Bondi Beach shooting wounds” (6 November 2026): https://www.europesays.com/3355861/
• The Guardian (via Globe TV) — “Eva Geller, 90, dies after year-long battle with Bondi Beach shooting wounds” (6 November 2026): https://globetv.app/news/eva-geller-90-dies-after-year-long-battle-with-bondi-beach-shooting-wounds-6aed77c056624
• Australian Associated Press (via Collie Mail) — “Holocaust survivor succumbs to Bondi gunshot wounds” (6 November 2026): https://www-colliemail-com-au.suzuka.uat2.newsnow.io/story/7918282/holocaust-survivor-succumbs-to-bondi-gunshot-wounds/?cs=9397

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