"SYDNEY Hundreds of mourners bearing bright bouquets and clutching each other in grief gathered at a funeral in Sydney on Thursday for a 10-year-old girl who was gunned down in an antisemitic massacre during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Matilda, whose last name is being withheld at the request of her family, was enjoying a petting zoo at the festivities on Sunday just before she was killed along with 14 other people in a mass shooting targeting Jews."
"The suspects, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State group, Australian authorities have said. Beaming photos of Matilda have become a focal point for Australia's grief at one of the worst hate-fueled attacks ever committed in the country. The massacre has prompted a national reckoning about antisemitism and questions about whether the country's leaders took seriously enough the threat to Australian Jews."
"Speaking to reporters in Australia's capital Canberra at the same Matilda's service began, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a tranche of legislative plans he said would curb radicalization and hate. Among his proposals were measures to broaden the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence, to bolster punishments for such crimes, to designate some groups as hateful, and to allow judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor in cases of online threats and harassment."
Matilda, a 10-year-old girl, was gunned down at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach while visiting a petting zoo, one of 15 people killed in an antisemitic mass shooting. The suspects, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State group, according to authorities. Hundreds of mourners gathered at Matilda's funeral in Sydney, mourning with flowers and photos that became focal points of national grief. The massacre prompted a national reckoning over antisemitism and whether leaders had adequately addressed threats to Australian Jews. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced legislative proposals to broaden hate speech offenses, increase penalties, designate hateful groups, and allow judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor.
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