(19 February 2002 - 07:07) The fatal shooting attack near the Kissufim Crossing in Gaza at about 7:00pm Monday night was described by military investigators as a well planned ambush. An officer, a soldier, and a 30-year-old mother of two were murdered. Three persons were wounded.
A lone terrorist armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and grenades managed to make his way to the Kissufim Crossing, a corridor to the Gush Katif communities. Ganei Tal resident Ahuva Amragim was traveling in her white Volkswagen Passat when the terrorist fired at the vehicle. She was killed immediately. The Givati Brigade soldiers stationed in the immediate area heard the gunfire and responded in two jeeps led by Captain Mor Elraz who was accompanied by his radioman, Sgt. Amir Mansuri. The first jeep was hit with a burst of automatic gunfire, followed by hand grenades. The captain was gravely wounded and the sergeant was killed.
It was then that Moshe Sapirstein arrived on the scene, traveling in his private vehicle. Immediately realizing what was taking place, he turned his vehicle and drove into the terrorist, running him over. This however did not neutralize the terrorist. The soldiers in the second jeep fired at the terrorist. The return fire from the terrorist wounded Sapirstein. A bomb exploded a short time later with investigators explaining the gunfire from the second jeep may have hit one of the explosive devices.
The wounded were transported to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. Major Elraz died during emergency surgery. Sapirstein and two other soldiers remain admitted to Soroka.
The first reaction by the Gush Katif community was anger, blaming the army for falling short of its responsibility to protect area residents traveling on the main vehicular route. The fatal attack occurred in the same area where Ettie Fahima, 45, of Netzer-Hazani was murdered on 27 November 2001.
SAPIRSTEIN, A HERO
Moshe Sapirstein, 73, a resident of N’vei Dekalim, lost a hand in a battle during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. On Monday night, surgeons at Soroka worked to save his other hand that was injured in the terror attack. He was also wounded in a leg. Sapirstein is listed in moderate condition according to the deputy director of Soroka, Dr. Ilan Zelinger, who added that physicians are uncertain if they will be able to save his hand.
OBITUARY – AHUVA AMRAGIM
Ahuva Amragim, 30, was a resident of the Gush Katif community of Ganei Tal. Ahuva, an attorney by profession, was the mother of two, Yitzhak, 4, and Ephraim, 2. She was employed in a Beersheba law firm. Ahuva did not go to work on Monday because Yitzhak was ill but during the afternoon hours, she traveled to Bank Tefahot in Beersheba to sign on a mortgage together with her husband for their new home in the southern city. Friends explain the young couple did not plan to relocate but made the decision to purchase a home. Ahuva will be laid to rest in the Gush Katif regional cemetery. The procession will leave Ganei Tal at 2:00pm this afternoon.
OBITUARY – CAPTAIN MOR ELRAZ
Captain Mor Elraz, 25, from Kiryat Ata, was killed by the terrorist gunfire responding in the first jeep near Kissufim. Army officers arrived at the Elraz home late Monday night, presenting the parents with the bitter news. Also present was Mor’s brother Shaked. Captain Elraz served in the Givati Brigade since his enlistment. In addition to his army duties, he managed to complete his degree in international relations in Hebrew University where he was an excellent student. Mor will be laid to rest in Kiryat Ata this afternoon at 3:00pm. He is survived by his parents Shimon, an Israel Electric Company employee, Nurit, a teacher, and his brother Shaked, a high school senior.
OBITUARY – SERGEANT AMIR MANSURI
Sergeant Amir Mansuri, 21, was a resident of Kiryat Arba. He too was a member of the Givati Brigade and served as the company radioman. Sergeant Mansuri will be laid to rest in the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem this afternoon at 3:15pm.
FATAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
The al-Aqsa Brigade of the Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Fatah also claimed responsibility for the fatal attack on Monday afternoon on the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim road.
A lone terrorist armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and grenades managed to make his way to the Kissufim Crossing, a corridor to the Gush Katif communities. Ganei Tal resident Ahuva Amragim was traveling in her white Volkswagen Passat when the terrorist fired at the vehicle. She was killed immediately. The Givati Brigade soldiers stationed in the immediate area heard the gunfire and responded in two jeeps led by Captain Mor Elraz who was accompanied by his radioman, Sgt. Amir Mansuri. The first jeep was hit with a burst of automatic gunfire, followed by hand grenades. The captain was gravely wounded and the sergeant was killed.
It was then that Moshe Sapirstein arrived on the scene, traveling in his private vehicle. Immediately realizing what was taking place, he turned his vehicle and drove into the terrorist, running him over. This however did not neutralize the terrorist. The soldiers in the second jeep fired at the terrorist. The return fire from the terrorist wounded Sapirstein. A bomb exploded a short time later with investigators explaining the gunfire from the second jeep may have hit one of the explosive devices.
The wounded were transported to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. Major Elraz died during emergency surgery. Sapirstein and two other soldiers remain admitted to Soroka.
The first reaction by the Gush Katif community was anger, blaming the army for falling short of its responsibility to protect area residents traveling on the main vehicular route. The fatal attack occurred in the same area where Ettie Fahima, 45, of Netzer-Hazani was murdered on 27 November 2001.
SAPIRSTEIN, A HERO
Moshe Sapirstein, 73, a resident of N’vei Dekalim, lost a hand in a battle during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. On Monday night, surgeons at Soroka worked to save his other hand that was injured in the terror attack. He was also wounded in a leg. Sapirstein is listed in moderate condition according to the deputy director of Soroka, Dr. Ilan Zelinger, who added that physicians are uncertain if they will be able to save his hand.
OBITUARY – AHUVA AMRAGIM
Ahuva Amragim, 30, was a resident of the Gush Katif community of Ganei Tal. Ahuva, an attorney by profession, was the mother of two, Yitzhak, 4, and Ephraim, 2. She was employed in a Beersheba law firm. Ahuva did not go to work on Monday because Yitzhak was ill but during the afternoon hours, she traveled to Bank Tefahot in Beersheba to sign on a mortgage together with her husband for their new home in the southern city. Friends explain the young couple did not plan to relocate but made the decision to purchase a home. Ahuva will be laid to rest in the Gush Katif regional cemetery. The procession will leave Ganei Tal at 2:00pm this afternoon.
OBITUARY – CAPTAIN MOR ELRAZ
Captain Mor Elraz, 25, from Kiryat Ata, was killed by the terrorist gunfire responding in the first jeep near Kissufim. Army officers arrived at the Elraz home late Monday night, presenting the parents with the bitter news. Also present was Mor’s brother Shaked. Captain Elraz served in the Givati Brigade since his enlistment. In addition to his army duties, he managed to complete his degree in international relations in Hebrew University where he was an excellent student. Mor will be laid to rest in Kiryat Ata this afternoon at 3:00pm. He is survived by his parents Shimon, an Israel Electric Company employee, Nurit, a teacher, and his brother Shaked, a high school senior.
OBITUARY – SERGEANT AMIR MANSURI
Sergeant Amir Mansuri, 21, was a resident of Kiryat Arba. He too was a member of the Givati Brigade and served as the company radioman. Sergeant Mansuri will be laid to rest in the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem this afternoon at 3:15pm.
FATAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
The al-Aqsa Brigade of the Fatah terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Fatah also claimed responsibility for the fatal attack on Monday afternoon on the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim road.