The youngest victim of the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack has been farewelled in a deeply emotional and symbolic funeral service. Matilda, aged just 10, was one of 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday, 14 December 2025.
A Community in Mourning
Hundreds of mourners packed the Chevra Kadisha funeral home in Woollahra, Sydney, on Thursday, 18 December, to pay their respects. The service was so well-attended that crowds spilled out onto the surrounding roads. The atmosphere was one of profound sorrow, with the sound of weeping from Matilda's family, including her parents Valentyna and her father, clearly audible at the front of the gathering.
The funeral was distinctly themed around bees, a touching tribute to Matilda's middle name. Attendees arrived carrying shiny bee-shaped balloons and wearing badges inscribed with "Matilda B" and a cartoon bee. Her father explained that "Bee" was the name he wished his daughter to be remembered by. The sea of yellow and black amidst the traditional mourning black created a poignant visual tribute to the young girl's life.
A Life Cruelly Cut Short
Matilda's death has sent shockwaves through Australia and the world. Her mother, Valentyna, had previously spoken at a memorial near the shooting site, delivering a heart-wrenching condemnation of the killers. She stated she could not imagine "what a monster who stands on that bridge, sees a little girl running for her father to hide - and pulls the trigger on her." She emphasised the deliberate nature of the act, saying, "It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a stray bullet. It was a bullet. It was fired at her."
The tragedy is compounded by the family's history. Matilda's parents had moved to Australia from Ukraine, hoping to escape the war and shield their son from the conflict. Instead, they found themselves burying their young daughter, a victim of a different kind of violence on the other side of the world.
Justice and Aftermath
Police have since charged Naveed Akram, 24, with 59 offences in relation to the attack. Akram was critically injured during an exchange with police responders on the day of the shooting, which also resulted in the death of his father and fellow shooter, 50-year-old Sajeed Akram. The attack is being treated as a premeditated act of antisemitic terrorism.
Amidst the long eulogies for the bubbly 10-year-old, one sentiment cut through with stark simplicity. A grieving grandfather, when approached by reporters, had only four words to say: "She should be alive." This simple statement encapsulates the overwhelming sense of loss and injustice felt by Matilda's loved ones and a community grappling with the aftermath of a senseless act of hate.
