‘Heartbreaking’: Holocaust survivor shot in Bondi terror attack dies in hospital

Eva Geller, 90, survived the Holocaust.A 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who settled in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after fleeing from Europe has died in Prince of Wales Hospital following complications stemming from injuries suffered in the December 14 terrorist attack.

Eva Geller, a great-grandmother who fled Romania with her mother and grandmother as a child, died on Thursday night, almost 11 months after she was hit by gunfire in the attack that targeted Jewish Australians celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach.

Geller was told by doctors she would never walk again after suffering multiple gunshot wounds in the attack, in which 15 victims died.

She had been in and out of hospital since December, but remained active in the Jewish community, attending services as late as September, moving with a walking stick.

Geller raised a family with her husband, David, an Auschwitz survivor, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. She attended Nefesh Synagogue in Bondi, where Rabbi Aron Moss became accustomed to her “very warm” character.

“She was a child in the Holocaust years, she escaped but she lost a lot of family. She lost her husband at quite an early age but, despite all that, she maintained a real positivity and happiness and a zest for life that was there right up until the end,” Moss said. “This is just another big, massive loss.”

Rabbi Aron Moss AAPIMAGEA large crowd is expected at her funeral on Monday, a source said. Premier Chris Minns described her death as “heartbreaking”.

“My thoughts are with Eva’s family and the Jewish community as they face another painful loss,” he said. “Almost a year on, we’re still living with the pain and aftershock of that evil act.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Geller’s death highlighted the continued devastation Australians confront in the months since the Bondi attack.

“Eva should have been able to celebrate Hanukkah in peace and safety and instead, her life was changed forever by an act of terror and antisemitism,” he said. “We are wrapping our arms around Eva’s family, friends and the Jewish community at this very sad time.”

NSW Police are working with the coroner to establish the cause of Geller’s death, and if it may lead to further charges against Naveed Akram, the surviving alleged gunman behind the attack. His father, Sajid, died in the attack following a shoot-out with police.

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