(IsraelNN.com) At about 7:30pm Wednesday night, a lone terrorist wearing an IDF uniform, armed with an M-16 rifle, six magazines, and a grenade, infiltrated the Jordan Valley community of Hamra, a small agricultural settlement, home to 40 families. After about 20-25 minutes, an army officer who responded to the scene eliminated the terrorist.
Miri Ochana, 40, and her 11-year-old daughter Yael, were in their home when the lone terrorist attacked. The terrorist entered the community near the hothouses, opening fire at a security patrol driven by Yitzhak Orenstein, the deputy security officer. Orenstein had just left his home a few minutes earlier following intelligence community warnings that a terrorist left the village of Tubas and was planning an attack in the area. The warning preceded the attack by about 10-15 minutes.
Orenstein explained, “We received a warning at about 7:20pm that a terrorist was in the area. We deployed the soldiers and were on alert. Suddenly, shots rang out. I drove in reverse to the home of my daughter. I told the soldier to get out since we were under fire. He was killed. I managed to find cover. We identified the terrorist. Some of us fired at him. Then reinforcements arrived. The company commander and another soldier were wounded.”
It is believed the terrorist saw a home with lights on inside and decided to knock on the door. Seeing a ‘soldier,’ the door was opened. The terrorist entered and fired at the mother and daughter. Miri Ochana was gravely wounded and transported to the trauma unit of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital by military chopper. She died of her massive injuries a short time later. Yael was killed immediately.
A short time later, a Golani Brigade officer shot and killed the terrorist via a window of the home. Four soldiers were wounded in the attack as well.
Army Central Commander Major-General Yitzhak Eitan has ordered an investigation. He explained that while the terrorist being dressed as a soldier may have complicated matters, the attack should have concluded at the gate of the moshav and it should not have resulted in the loss of life and casualties.
The latest fatal attack came days after Yasser Arafat’s New York Times op-ed in which he vowed to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating in the PA. Israeli leaders point to the attack emphasizing once again that Arafat’s has yet to make good on his statements promising to combat terrorism.
Officials accompanying Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Washington released statements earlier this morning that Israel would be retaliating for the attack.
Miri Ochana, 40, and her 11-year-old daughter Yael, were in their home when the lone terrorist attacked. The terrorist entered the community near the hothouses, opening fire at a security patrol driven by Yitzhak Orenstein, the deputy security officer. Orenstein had just left his home a few minutes earlier following intelligence community warnings that a terrorist left the village of Tubas and was planning an attack in the area. The warning preceded the attack by about 10-15 minutes.
Orenstein explained, “We received a warning at about 7:20pm that a terrorist was in the area. We deployed the soldiers and were on alert. Suddenly, shots rang out. I drove in reverse to the home of my daughter. I told the soldier to get out since we were under fire. He was killed. I managed to find cover. We identified the terrorist. Some of us fired at him. Then reinforcements arrived. The company commander and another soldier were wounded.”
It is believed the terrorist saw a home with lights on inside and decided to knock on the door. Seeing a ‘soldier,’ the door was opened. The terrorist entered and fired at the mother and daughter. Miri Ochana was gravely wounded and transported to the trauma unit of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital by military chopper. She died of her massive injuries a short time later. Yael was killed immediately.
A short time later, a Golani Brigade officer shot and killed the terrorist via a window of the home. Four soldiers were wounded in the attack as well.
Army Central Commander Major-General Yitzhak Eitan has ordered an investigation. He explained that while the terrorist being dressed as a soldier may have complicated matters, the attack should have concluded at the gate of the moshav and it should not have resulted in the loss of life and casualties.
The latest fatal attack came days after Yasser Arafat’s New York Times op-ed in which he vowed to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating in the PA. Israeli leaders point to the attack emphasizing once again that Arafat’s has yet to make good on his statements promising to combat terrorism.
Officials accompanying Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Washington released statements earlier this morning that Israel would be retaliating for the attack.