The funeral of Captain Ziv Deus, who was murdered last Friday in the car-ramming terror attack in northern Samaria, is now taking place at the military cemetery in Holon.
Thousands of visitors arrived at the cemetery to pay final respects to Captain Deus, including Ministers Yoav Galant (Kulanu) and Ophir Akunis (Likud), MK Moti Yogev (Jewish Home) and Deus’ comrades from the Search and Rescue Unit of the Home Front Command.
Deus' grandfather, Shalom Deus, cried during the funeral, "Why? What did we do?" Deus' father said, "I have to say 'kaddish' (the prayer for the dead) for him? He should have been the one to say it for me. It's not natural. G-d will protect you above. He took an angel from me, G-d takes all the angels and all the good people. G-d help us."
Government representative Science Minister Ophir Akunis said, "A two-legged beast murdered Captain Deus and Sergeant Kahalani in the prime of youth. Whoever takes the lives of others should know that his life will be taken in return - the death penalty for terrorists is an urgent necessity."
Deus, a platoon commander in a battalion of the Home Front Command rescue brigade, is the first of his unit to fall during operational activity.
Initial investigations show that the soldiers were standing next to a pillbox, between an olive grove and the Palestinian Authority Arab town of Ya'bad, located near the Jewish community of Mevo Dotan. Deus and Kahalani happened to be standing in the path of the car when it veered toward them, while the two soldiers who were injured were standing on the side of the road. The terrorist noticed the first two soldiers, veered off the road, accelerated, and hit the commander and the soldier who was with him.
The two soldiers who stood in the path of the car were killed immediately. Afterwards, the terrorist accelerated towards the other two soldiers, injuring one severely and one moderately. He also hit the fence surrounding the guard post.
Investigations show that the soldiers did not have enough time to respond to the terrorist.