Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
The funeral for 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the recent Bondi Beach shooting, was held in Sydney on December 18, 2025. Mourners gathered in large numbers to pay their respects, with many expressing their sorrow as a tiny white coffin was carried out of the synagogue. Eyewitnesses reported emotional scenes as attendees held balloons and teddy bears, reflecting on the loss of such a young life, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and ABC News.
Matilda tragically lost her life during a Hanukkah festival shooting, which claimed 15 victims and left over 40 injured, marking Australia's deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. The gunmen, allegedly radicalized by Islamic State, have sparked serious concerns regarding antisemitism and public safety. As officials work on the investigation, the parents of Matilda expressed their frustration with the government's inadequate response to escalating antisemitic incidents in Australia, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.
During the funeral, Matilda's mother stated, "We have been saying for years ... they didn't do anything," highlighting long-standing concerns about increasing antisemitic attacks in the region. Following the shooting, a 19-year-old man was charged with making threats against a member of the Jewish community, bringing further attention to the issue of antisemitism in Australia, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and ABC News.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces mounting pressure from the Jewish community as they criticize his government for prioritizing gun reform over stricter measures against rising antisemitism in the wake of this tragedy. Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation is focusing on possible connections between the attackers and Islamic State-linked networks, both in Australia and the Philippines, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and ABC News.