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Farid Farid

Australia's generosity on show for Bondi attack victims

Records have been broken for blood donations across Australia following the mass shooting. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Australians and people the world over have opened their hearts and wallets to support those killed and injured in the Bondi attack.

More than $5 million has been donated across various fundraisers since two gunmen targeted Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday night, killing 15 people.

Online platform GoFundMe said more than 70,000 donations from people in more than 60 countries had been made to verified fundraising pages for Bondi victims.

Mourners at a makeshift memorial at Bondi Beach
The horrific attack has united Australians in grief and led to acts of charity across the nation. (Rounak Amini/AAP PHOTOS)

The Police Association of NSW has also set up appeals for two officers injured in the attack, including one who could lose his vision permanently, that have reached nearly $750,000.

More than 25,000 blood donations have been made since an appeal for help from Lifeblood in the wake of the attack.

About 90,000 Lifeblood appointments have been booked across Australia in a record-breaking show of support.

"We've seen nothing short of a tsunami of generosity and decency come our way to help boost supplies and help those in hospitals, from every corner of the country," Lifeblood spokeswoman Jemma Falkenmire told AAP.

"What began as a frighteningly large (need for blood) on Sunday night ... has become a full-scale and national operation to accept thousands of generous gifts of blood."

A person giving a blood donation
Australians have rolled up their sleeves to give blood in order to help save lives. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Those injured in the attack continue to be discharged from Sydney hospitals, with 15 still receiving care. 

One is in a critical condition and four are listed by NSW Health as critical but stable.

The Australian National Imams Council has issued a message of togetherness for all preachers to incorporate in their sermons during Friday prayers.

"Islam calls believers to be builders of unity and peace, not agents of division and harm," the council said.

"This is a time for unity, not division; for compassion, not hatred; and for standing together as one nation."

A Star of David is seen at a the Bondi memorial
Jewish leaders insist the attack should not be used to create division in the community. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The Jewish Council of Australia, which has been critical of the Albanese government's efforts to address growing anti-Semitism, said grief should not be politicised or used as a weapon to sow division.

"This is a week of profound grief for Jewish people and the entire nation," the council said.

"No policy response from the government should lose sight of the human cost of this violence."

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