Hundreds attended the funeral Tuesday afternoon of 39-year-old Irit Sheetrit of Ashdod, who was killed Monday night when a Grad rocket exploded in the center of Ashdod. She was laid to rest in a cemetery in the port city, her hometown.
Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) and Ashdod Mayor Yechiel Lasri eulogized Sheetrit, who is survived by her husband, Herzl, and their four children. Dr. Lasri said Israel must continue its fight against Hamas. Some among the mourners called out that Hamas-controlled Gaza should be attacked and burned.
Irit Sheetrit was on her way home from the gym with her sister Ayelet when a rocket exploded near their car shortly after 9:00 p.m. Monday. Although Irit managed to get out of her car to take cover, she was fatally wounded and succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards. Her sister was wounded, along with several others who suffered shock.
The rocket was one of two launched simultaneously at Ashdod, with the fatal projectile striking a bus stop. Most bus stops do not provide protection from rockets, police noted.
While the eulogies were delivered in Ashdod, the Chief Rabbi of Grad-battered Ashkelon, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Blau, issued a ruling that funerals are to be conducted with a minimum number of people. In addition, no eulogies are to be delivered, according to the city's Burial Society. Both measures are to prevent residents from congregating in the unfortified and open areas that make up the city cemeteries.