The relatives of seven-year-old Hillel Mordechai Dadon, who was murdered in a stabbing in Beit Shemesh, are struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss.
Hillel's four-year-old cousin, who was seriously injured in the same incident, remains hospitalized and has since been reported to be in stable condition. The family is also coping with the loss of another close relative in a traffic accident just one week earlier.
"He was supposed to go with a new backpack on his back and be excited with the friends in his class," a family member said. "He was supposed to dream the dreams of children. What evil in the world would dare to touch a pure child who did nothing wrong to anyone? The heart is shattered into pieces. Pain and mourning wrap the family from every direction, and there are no words that can describe the size of the void."
According to police, Hillel was stabbed during a birthday celebration in Beit Shemesh. His four-year-old cousin was seriously wounded, while a 15-year-old family member who had been watching the children witnessed the attack. The father of one of the children later found them injured near the pool. Police arrested a 25-year-old local resident on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Investigators are examining all possible motives, including the possibility that an earlier dispute between the families led to the incident. The suspect's father was also detained for questioning.
MDA teams who arrived at the scene performed prolonged resuscitation efforts on Hillel before evacuating him to the hospital, where doctors were forced to pronounce him dead. His cousin was evacuated in serious condition, and his condition later stabilized.
Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg said the entire city was shaken by the tragedy. "Our hearts are with the families who lost the most precious thing to them of all. The welfare and psychological service teams are accompanying the family members and providing a professional framework for everyone affected."