Geffen Bitton, a 30-year-old Israeli who was wounded attempting to neutralize terrorists in the deadly Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack last month, will return to Israel on Wednesday for further treatment.
Bitton, an Israeli who was living in Sydney, Australia, during the deadly massacre, was shot three times and underwent eight different surgeries and spent weeks in critical condition. Upon improvement of his condition, though still serious, Bitton was cleared to travel back to Israel for continued treatment.
According to witness accounts, Bitton managed to escape when the terrorists commenced fire, but turned back to try and help civilians caught in the line of fire.
Documentation shared on social media and in Australian media showed Bitton, a young man in a red shirt, running toward the scene of the massacre and into the shooting scene. Bitton, along with civilian Ahmed al-Ahmad, attempted to distract the assailants. He was shot three times in the confrontation with a hunting rifle.
Bitton was transferred to Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital for immediate attention and underwent eight complex surgeries.
Israeli civilian Gefen Bitton hailed as hero in Sydney
Relatives and friends of Bitton described fear and uncertainty as they lost contact with him immediately after the shooting. Friends of the victim told Israeli media that just minutes after the attack, they received a call from his sister, “My brother just called. He said he was shot twice, and then hung up,” she said.
Bitton’s family was led to call different hospitals in Sydney to learn the fate of Gefen, learning that he was transferred to surgery with severe gunshot wounds. His father flew to Israel shortly after.
Those closest to Bitton called for recognition of his heroism while waiting for him to be stable enough to wake up from his coma.
Australian media reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited him in the hospital as he remained in critical condition.
Bitton’s family said in a statement that "after a long day of hiking in the Blue Mountains, one of Gefen’s favorite pastimes, all he wanted to do was celebrate Hanukkah. Sitting at the benches in Bondi with a friend, he insisted on staying until the last moment until the Hanukkah lighting was completed. Little did he know, this decision would change his life."
“When the shooting began, Gefen jumped up with his friend and ran, but when his friend looked back just a second later, Gefen had disappeared from sight. Gefen had escaped; he was safe, but when he saw the terrorist, he ran into the line of fire to help. He made the decision to put himself at risk to save others' lives. As Ahmad al Ahmad heroically jumped on the terrorist, Gefen ran in alongside to confront the terrorist,” the statement said.
“There, he was shot, fell to the ground, and was shot again. Gefen put his own life at risk with his selfless actions. Gefen, an unarmed Israeli civilian living in peace in Australia, made a decision most of us couldn’t even think of. He ran into the face of danger like only a hero does, guided by the values on which he was educated and raised. A true hero that deserves recognition.”