Bondi Attack Heroes Honoured With Keys To The City

Waverley Council has formally recognised three heroes who ran towards danger to save others during the December Bondi attack, while also setting in motion broader plans to honour victims.

At an extraordinary council meeting this week, councillors unanimously voted to award Keys to the City and lifetime Waverley Beach passes to Ahmed al-Ahmed, Gefen Bitton and Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff, in recognition of their actions during the mass shooting at the Chanukah by the Sea event on 14 December.

All three men were seriously injured while trying to protect others. Al-Ahmed intervened directly by wrestling a firearm away from one of the alleged attackers. Bitton ran towards the unfolding violence to assist and was shot. Lazaroff helped save the life of a critically injured NSW Police officer by using his own shirt to stem severe bleeding.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said the honours were a symbolic expression of the community’s gratitude.

“These gestures symbolise the enduring impact of their selflessness on our entire community and are a token of our never-ending gratitude,” Cr Nemesh said.

Posthumous honours to be nominated

The successful Mayoral Minute also authorised the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Keri Spooner and Waverley Council General Manager Emily Scott to collaborate on a list of suggested recipients for the Prime Minister’s Special Honours List on behalf of Council.

Those nominations will include recommended posthumous acknowledgements for Boris and Sofia Gurman and Reuven Morrison, who were killed while attempting to stop the alleged attackers.

Mr Gurman, 69, and Mrs Gurman, 61, were the first two bystanders to encounter the alleged shooters as they exited a vehicle armed with weapons.

“Boris and Sofia saw the alleged shooters and rushed to confront them in a heroic bid to save people and tragically, they lost their lives in the process,” Cr Nemesh said.

“They were beloved members of our Waverley community and in their final moments, they put the wellbeing of others above their own safety. We will be forever thankful.”

Mr Morrison, 61, lost his life while trying to stop one of the alleged gunmen by throwing a brick at him — an act of resistance captured in video filmed by a witness.

Interim memorials and next steps

While a permanent memorial is expected to take time, Council has already taken several interim steps. A temporary Chanukiah has been installed near the site of the attack, providing a space for mourning, reflection and prayer.

Council has also authorised the installation of dedicated mural panels along the Bondi Beach Sea Wall for a 12-month period, with artists to be selected through an expression of interest process.

Public obituaries for the 15 victims will be formally heard at Council’s first ordinary meeting of the year on 24 February.

On the question of a permanent memorial, Cr Nemesh said extensive consultation with victims’ families, the Waverley community and the Jewish community would be essential.

“These conversations will be led by the NSW Government and supported by Council,” he said. “We should not rush this important process. We want to get it right.”