Eva Geller, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who was shot during the Bondi Beach terror attack, has died in hospital nearly a year after the massacre, according to reports from The Guardian and ABC News.
Ms. Geller passed away on Thursday night following complications related to the injuries she sustained during the shooting on December 14, 2025. Nine.com.au reported that her death occurred while she was receiving treatment for injuries linked to the gunshot wounds she suffered during the Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park. A senior Jewish community source told The Guardian that she had recently returned to the hospital after developing an infection and died following a stroke.
The tragedy, which occurred during a Jewish festival, saw 15 people killed and 40 others injured when two gunmen opened fire. Among the victims killed was 10-year-old Matilda.
A life defined by resilience and community
Rabbi Aron Moss of the Nefesh Synagogue in Sydney described Ms. Geller as a beloved figure within the eastern suburbs Jewish community. Originally from Hungary, she had escaped the Holocaust as a child alongside her mother and grandmother before migrating to Australia to rebuild her life. Her late husband was also a survivor of the Mauthausen and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, according to Nine.com.au. Rabbi Moss said the community was “devastated” by the loss of the great-grandmother, whom he described as “a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a positive person.”
Despite the severity of her injuries, which ABC News reported included significant damage to her legs, Ms. Geller demonstrated what Rabbi Moss called “incredible strength.” Although doctors had warned she might never walk again, the Rabbi noted she defied the odds through sheer determination during her rehabilitation. He added that she had recently attended holiday services at his synagogue, where she was welcomed with a “hero’s welcome” and maintained a positive, strong presence. She attended my holiday services at my synagogue just a couple of months ago,
Rabbi Moss said. She was welcomed with a hero’s welcome and she was there with a positive face and a strong face.
Ms. Geller had been in and out of hospitals throughout the year as she struggled to recover. ABC News reported that she had been bedridden since the attack and was recently admitted to the Prince of Wales hospital, where she ultimately passed away. She was in rehab,” he says. “She just never really recovered and it was a couple of weeks ago she ended up in the Prince of Wales (hospital) and that was that was the end.
Political tributes to a life changed by terror
The news of her passing has drawn condolences from Australia’s highest political offices. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his sadness, stating that Ms. Geller’s life was “changed forever by an act of terror and antisemitism.” He noted that she should have been able to celebrate Chanukkah in peace and safety, adding that the nation is “wrapping our arms around Eva’s family, friends and the Jewish community.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the news as “heartbreaking,” remarking that the community is still living with the pain and aftershocks of the “evil act” committed last year. My thoughts are with Eva’s family and the Jewish community as they face another painful loss,
Minns said in a statement. She added that support must continue for the Jewish community, first responders, and all victims.
The attack was carried out by 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram. While Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, Naveed remains in court facing 78 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act that investigators allege was “inspired by Isis,” The Guardian reported.
Royal Commission hears testimony
The massacre prompted the establishment of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which heard testimony from more than 340 witnesses over a 62-day period. The legal proceedings against Naveed Akram continue to move through the court system as the state grapples with the long-term trauma of the event.
A spokesperson for Ms. Geller’s family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
