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<\/a><\/p>\nNew South Wales Premier Chris Minns visits Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. (NSW premier Chris Minns Account \/ Handout\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ackman gave $66,000 to the GoFundMe for al Ahmed and promoted the campaign to his followers, tweeting, \u201cThis is the verified link for the Bondi hero.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a viral video on Sunday, shortly after the attack on Bondi Beach that left 15 killed and over 40 injured, al Ahmed, 43, can be seen crouching behind a car before jumping into action as one of the terrorists shoots a firearm at the Jewish celebration. Al Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two who was unarmed, then jumped on the attacker from behind, wresting the firearm from his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a moment of chaos and danger, he stepped forward without hesitation,\u201d the sponsors of the GoFundMe, Car Hub Australia, wrote on the page. \u201cHis actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety. Early reports indicate he was shot twice in the process while protecting others.\u201d<\/p>\n
As al Ahmed\u2019s heroic actions were shared widely on social media on Sunday, he garnered praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.<\/p>\n
As al Ahmed recovered from his injuries in a hospital on Monday, he was visited by Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, the Australian state that includes Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhmed is a real-life hero,\u201d wrote Minns in a post on X alongside a photo of him visiting al Ahmed in the hospital. \u201cLast night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Praise also poured in on social media from Jewish leaders in the United States, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhmed al Ahmed, a Muslim father of two, risked his life to disarm a murderer who was shooting down Jews celebrating Hanukkah in Sydney,\u201d wrote Sanders in a post on X. \u201cReligion must not divide our common humanity. We must stand together and end antisemitism, Islamophobia and all hate \u2014 no exceptions.\u201d<\/p>\n
For others, al Ahmed\u2019s act of bravery during the massacre appeared to be divine intervention \u2014 coming as it did at a time when many Jews feel isolated and abandoned by their non-Jewish allies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about this man Ahmed and his selfless act of courage, and I can\u2019t help but feel that it as an act of God,\u201d wrote Jewish social media influencer Alana Zeitchik in a post on Instagram. \u201cIt is a message that could only have been written by something higher than all of us. Like all actions it has a ripple effect. In this moment of immense grief and fear, his actions repair a painful tear in the collective Jewish soul that so badly needed to be tended to.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cHe will be cherished and spoken about by our people for generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the 34,000 donors to the GoFundMe campaign so far are several who said in notes that they were Jewish and explained why they donated unusual sums, in multiples of $18.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhmed, you are a true hero. As a Jewish supporter, I donated $180 USD because 18 (\u201cchai\u201d) represents life. Your courage embodied that meaning in the most profound way,\u201d wrote Craig Gross. \u201cThank you for what you did, and may you heal fully and quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n