Australian PM Criticized as Bondi Terror Victim Laid to Rest
The funeral for 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the recent Bondi terror attack, took place in Sydney amid strong emotional outpourings from family and friends. The attack occurred during a Chanukah celebration, where Matilda was tragically shot and killed. Outside the funeral, a woman wrapped in both the Australian and Israeli flags publicly condemned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, declaring he has “blood on his hands” and demanding his resignation.
Chana Friedman expressed her grief over the loss of the young girl, stating, “He has that girl’s blood on his hands.” Her words echoed through the gathered crowd, as she reflected on the significance of the upcoming Christmas celebrations, linking them to the recent violence. “Do you know what it’s like to lie down on top of a daughter, shots and bullets going off and people dying around you?” asked a grieving father, who identified himself only as Wayne. He recounted his harrowing experience during the attack, where he risked his life to protect his child.
Inside the Chevra Kadisha synagogue, the atmosphere was thick with sorrow as loved ones remembered Matilda, who was described as a “ray of sunshine.” A rabbi leading the service noted, “The tragic, totally cruel unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something that is so painful to us like our own daughter was taken from us.” He emphasized the importance of keeping her memory alive through good deeds, stating her Hebrew name means “righteous woman.”
In a poignant moment, NSW Premier Chris Minns recited a poem in Matilda’s honor: “A child of celebration was lost to terrors night, yet in the hush of sorrow her memory will shine.” Hundreds of mourners gathered around the hearse carrying her small coffin, embracing one another as they shared their grief.
The loss of Matilda has resonated deeply with the community, as evidenced by the presence of opposition leaders from both state and federal government at the funeral. Prime Minister Albanese did not attend, which has drawn further criticism from grieving families. The day before Matilda’s funeral, her parents spoke at an informal memorial, detailing the anguish they felt following their daughter’s death. Matilda’s father, Michael, shared his heartbreaking account of the moments during the shooting, highlighting the trauma of witnessing his daughter’s final moments.
“She ran to where we were. I saw her go down and I crawled to her,” Michael recalled. “I took my shirt off and stuck it on her wound.” He described Matilda’s struggle to breathe in her final moments, saying she told him, “It’s hard to breathe.” This harrowing scene unfolded in front of Matilda’s six-year-old sister, further compounding the family’s grief.
Matilda’s mother, Valentyna, articulated her devastation, questioning the actions of the shooter who targeted a child. “I can’t imagine what monster stands on that bridge, seeing a little girl running for her father, and he just pulled his trigger on her,” she said.
The Bondi terror attack claimed a total of 15 victims, with Matilda’s funeral marking the beginning of a series of memorial services. The first of these was for Rabbi Eli Schlanger, also a victim of the attack, whose family displayed profound sorrow as they mourned his loss. Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, Chayale, along with other family members, expressed their grief as they honored his memory.
As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy, they face the daunting task of healing while ensuring that the memories of those lost are preserved. The impact of Matilda’s death, along with the other victims, will undoubtedly resonate within the hearts of those who knew them and within the broader community in the weeks and months to come.
