Mourners grieve 10-year-old slain in Bondi mass shooting as Australia's leader pledges new hate laws

Sydney's community gathered on Thursday to mourn a 10-year-old girl killed in the Bondi Beach mass shooting. Hundreds of people attended the funeral, bringing flowers and offering support to one another. The girl, whose first name was Matilda, was killed during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday along with 14 others in what authorities are calling an antisemitic attack. Her last name is being withheld to protect her family's privacy.

Australian authorities have stated that the suspects, a father and son, were motivated by the Islamic State group. Photos of Matilda have become a symbol of the nation's grief following the tragedy, one of the worst hate-fueled attacks in the country's history. The massacre has sparked a national conversation about antisemitism and whether Australian leaders have adequately addressed threats against the Jewish community.

Rabbi Dovid Slavin, speaking to the Associated Press before the service, noted that Matilda's parents had moved to Australia from war-torn Ukraine seeking a better life. He emphasized the shared responsibility of all adults in the country to ensure such tragedies do not occur, commenting on the simple act of parents taking their child to a community event.

**Albanese Promises New Hate Laws**

At the same time as Matilda's funeral, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a series of legislative proposals in Canberra aimed at curbing radicalization and hate. These measures include broadening the definition of hate speech for leaders who incite violence, increasing penalties for hate crimes, designating certain groups as hateful, and allowing judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor in online harassment cases.

Albanese also stated that officials would be granted greater authority to deny or revoke visas for individuals who promote hate and division. While acknowledging the legal complexities, he did not provide a specific timeline for the implementation of these reforms.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told reporters that numerous organizations promote division and have historically evaded legal action due to falling just below the threshold. Albanese's announcement follows his promise to strengthen Australia's gun control laws, which are already among the strictest globally. State leaders have also pledged to introduce additional firearm initiatives and stricter regulations for protests.

Despite these actions, Albanese's absence from the victims' funerals has drawn criticism. Local media reports suggest he was not invited, despite other political figures attending. Albanese defended his record, citing measures already implemented, such as the February ban on Nazi salutes, as evidence of his commitment to combating antisemitism. He acknowledged that more could have been done and accepted responsibility for his role as prime minister in addressing the issue, while also affirming his commitment to leading and uniting the nation.

**Investigation into Suspects Continues**

Police Chief Krissy Barrett reported that investigators are continuing to investigate the suspected gunmen's connections within Australia and their travel to the Philippines prior to the attack. Authorities had previously disclosed that Naveed Akram, the younger suspect, was investigated by Australian security services in 2019 for six months.

The older shooter, Sajid Akram, who was killed on Sunday, legally obtained the firearms used in the massacre. He was granted a gun license in 2023, after his son had already come to the attention of authorities.

Eduardo Año, the Philippine National Security Adviser, told the Associated Press that there was no evidence suggesting the suspects received training for the attack while in the Philippines. He stated that they stayed in a budget hotel in Davao City during their visit in November, and the length of their stay would not have allowed for any meaningful training.

Naveed Akram is currently receiving medical treatment in a Sydney hospital. He was charged on Wednesday with 59 offenses, including murder and committing a terrorist act. He has not yet entered a plea, and many details of the case are currently suppressed by a judge.

Health officials reported on Thursday that 16 individuals remain hospitalized across Sydney, with two in critical condition. One patient's condition worsened that morning.

**Community Attends Funerals**

Amid the ongoing investigation, Sydney's Jewish community is attending multiple funerals. In addition to Matilda's service, a funeral was held for Alex Kleytman, 87, the oldest victim. Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor, was killed while protecting his wife, she told reporters. Other victims included rabbis, a man who threw bricks at one of the gunmen, and a married couple who attempted to stop a shooter.

Teachers from Matilda's school described her as "our little ray of sunshine" in a tribute read at her funeral. The tribute noted that Matilda, who had recently won a national literacy prize, had an incredible ability to bring joy to others.

Grief was palpable as Matilda's coffin was carried out of the hall. Bumblebee balloons, referencing her family nickname, Matilda Bee, floated in the breeze. Mourners received stickers featuring a cartoon bumblebee holding a menorah, with Matilda's name printed in purple, her favorite color.

"I don't want to sound selfish," Rabbi Slavin said, "But I and many others are thinking, this could have been my child."