(August 26, 2001 – 06:41) In two terrorist attacks on Saturday, five persons were killed, three military personnel and two civilians. The first attack occurred in Gaza at about 3:30am. The second attack took place at about 10:30pm on Route 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in road.
ROUTE 443 TERRORIST ATTACK
At about 10:30pm on Saturday night, terrorist gunfire was directed at an Israeli vehicle traveling on Route 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in road from the direction of Givat Ze’ev towards Modi’in. The vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, was attacked in proximity of the ‘Dor Energy’ gas station. Route 443 is second in prominence next to Route 1, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway, in connecting the capital to the Tel Aviv area.
TWO PRONOUNCED DEAD ON THE SCENE
Emergency medical service personnel pronounced two persons dead on the scene. Paramedic Guy Steiff explained one of the victims was immediately pronounced dead while resuscitation efforts were implemented on the second but without success.
Sharon and Yaniv Ben-Shalom, residents of the community of Ofarim in the western sector of the Benjamin Regional Council of the Shomron were killed. Tzion Sabiri, Sharon’s brother, remains in very critical condition in Tel Aviv’s Tel HaShomer Hospital. He was shot in the chest and head. The couple’s children, ages 6 months and 2 years were also lightly wounded in the attack. They too were transported to Tel HaShomer.
SHOTS FIRED FROM STATIONARY POSITION
Police officials report that following the preliminary investigation; the fatal shots were fired from a stationary ambush position and not a passing vehicle, in proximity to the gas station. Police add the gunfire was very accurate, quite possibly the result of sniper fire using a telescopic scope. Police did add however that it is possible the shots were fired from a passing vehicle.
CLOSURE
Following the attack, the IDF clamped a closure on two nearby Arab villages as a manhunt for the terrorists continues.
On December 21, 2000, Eliyahu Cohen, 29, of Jerusalem, was killed in a terrorist shooting attack very close to the location of this most recent fatal attack. There have also been numerous non-fatal attacks on the road over the past months.
MARGANIT OUTPOST TERROR ATTACK IN GAZA
At about 3:30am on Saturday morning, terrorists armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades entered the IDF’s Marganit Outpost in southern Gush Katif. They immediately opened fire striking eight soldiers, killing one and wounding seven. When the first wave of gunfire began, many of the soldiers assigned to the outpost were asleep.
REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
Reinforcements arrived and a gun battle ensued. Killed were Major Gil Oz, 30, from Kfar Saba and Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir, 21, from Kfar Saba. Major Oz was the deputy battalion commander. Sgt. Nir, the unit’s medic, was killed while trying to rescue his commander. The third soldier killed was the medic’s radioman, Corporal Tzachi Grabli, 19, of Holon.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Major Gil Oz, 30, of Kfar Saba was the deputy battalion commander of the Shaked Battalion of Givati. He will be laid to rest in the Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery on Sunday August 26th at 3:30pm.
Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir, 21, of Kfar Saba, was the unit’s medic. He fell in the line of duty while trying to save Major Oz. He will be laid to rest on Sunday, August 26th at 5:30pm in the Kfar Saba Military Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements for Corporal Tzachi Grabli to be announced.
TAKEN TO BEERSHEBA TRAUMA UNIT
The wounded soldiers were flown to the trauma unit of Beersheba’s Soroka Hospital where one is listed in serious condition, three moderate, and one moderate-to-light. Two soldiers were discharged.
All the dead and wounded are members of the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Infantry Brigade.
ONE TERRORIST KILLED IN THE OUTPOST
The first terrorist was killed inside the outpost. The second fled but was later found and killed by troops involved in the manhunt. He was hiding in area hothouses. A third terrorist believed to have transported the two to the area escaped back to PA-controlled Khan Yunis.
There are conflicting reports identifying the terrorists as members of Fatah while the DFLP claimed responsibility for the attack.
THE VICTIMS
Major Gil Oz was well known in his Kfar Saba neighborhood. When the bitter news broke, many area residents came to pay their respects, with most just standing quietly outside the Oz home in a solemn sign of solidarity. His parents and three brothers survive him.
Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir was the unit medic. Family members are still waiting for the completion of the investigation to learn if enemy or IDF fire in the gun battle inside the outpost killed him. His family explained that as a combat medic his entire service was in a front line area. He served in southern Lebanon and now in Gaza. He was scheduled to leave Gaza in five days. When he served in Lebanon it was publicized that after one gun battle, he did not hesitate to treat a wounded Hizbullah terrorist.
Kobi was scheduled to complete his military service in seven months.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED
IDF OC Southern Commander Major-General Doron Almog has ordered an investigation to be headed by an officer of the rank of brigadier-general. The investigation will delve into the facts pertaining to the attack, how the terrorist entered the outpost undetected, preparedness status of the soldiers, response of the soldiers, command, and if the medic Kobi Nir was killed by enemy or IDF fire.
RETALIATORY STRIKES
IDF officials during the night confirmed that tanks and ground forces entered into PA-controlled Rafiach in southern Gaza and destroyed PA military positions. One soldier was wounded in the gunfire, sustaining very light injuries. He was treated on the scene and did not require transportation to a hospital.
PA positions on the Karni-Netzarim road in northern Gaza were also destroyed. The positions chosen were used repeatedly to launch attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets driving on the northern Gaza road.
The Office of the IDF Spokesman added that the PA’s National Security Service facilities targeted in southern Gaza were chosen because one of the terrorists that perpetrated the Marganit attack was a member of the NSS.
During the early pre-dawn hours air force F-15 and F-16 fighter planes on Sunday morning attacked PA terrorist targets in retaliation to the Gaza and Route 443 terrorist attacks on Saturday that claimed five lives and wounded ten.
Targeted in the aerial strikes were the main police headquarters in Gaza, an intelligence service and police facility in the Dir el-Balah area of Gaza, and police headquarters in Salfit south of Shechem.
Pilots reported accurate hits. All planes returned safely to their bases. PA officials report eight casualties.
TERRORIST’S MOTHER IS PROUD
The mother of slain terrorist Amin Abu Hatab expressed his pride in her son’s actions, adding that he did not attend his brother’s wedding on Friday night to prepare for the attack.
She added that as a child, he was injured in clashes with Israeli forces and since then, has dreamed of becoming a ‘Shahid’, a holy martyr.
ROUTE 443 TERRORIST ATTACK
At about 10:30pm on Saturday night, terrorist gunfire was directed at an Israeli vehicle traveling on Route 443, the Jerusalem-Modi’in road from the direction of Givat Ze’ev towards Modi’in. The vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, was attacked in proximity of the ‘Dor Energy’ gas station. Route 443 is second in prominence next to Route 1, the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway, in connecting the capital to the Tel Aviv area.
TWO PRONOUNCED DEAD ON THE SCENE
Emergency medical service personnel pronounced two persons dead on the scene. Paramedic Guy Steiff explained one of the victims was immediately pronounced dead while resuscitation efforts were implemented on the second but without success.
Sharon and Yaniv Ben-Shalom, residents of the community of Ofarim in the western sector of the Benjamin Regional Council of the Shomron were killed. Tzion Sabiri, Sharon’s brother, remains in very critical condition in Tel Aviv’s Tel HaShomer Hospital. He was shot in the chest and head. The couple’s children, ages 6 months and 2 years were also lightly wounded in the attack. They too were transported to Tel HaShomer.
SHOTS FIRED FROM STATIONARY POSITION
Police officials report that following the preliminary investigation; the fatal shots were fired from a stationary ambush position and not a passing vehicle, in proximity to the gas station. Police add the gunfire was very accurate, quite possibly the result of sniper fire using a telescopic scope. Police did add however that it is possible the shots were fired from a passing vehicle.
CLOSURE
Following the attack, the IDF clamped a closure on two nearby Arab villages as a manhunt for the terrorists continues.
On December 21, 2000, Eliyahu Cohen, 29, of Jerusalem, was killed in a terrorist shooting attack very close to the location of this most recent fatal attack. There have also been numerous non-fatal attacks on the road over the past months.
MARGANIT OUTPOST TERROR ATTACK IN GAZA
At about 3:30am on Saturday morning, terrorists armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades entered the IDF’s Marganit Outpost in southern Gush Katif. They immediately opened fire striking eight soldiers, killing one and wounding seven. When the first wave of gunfire began, many of the soldiers assigned to the outpost were asleep.
REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
Reinforcements arrived and a gun battle ensued. Killed were Major Gil Oz, 30, from Kfar Saba and Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir, 21, from Kfar Saba. Major Oz was the deputy battalion commander. Sgt. Nir, the unit’s medic, was killed while trying to rescue his commander. The third soldier killed was the medic’s radioman, Corporal Tzachi Grabli, 19, of Holon.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Major Gil Oz, 30, of Kfar Saba was the deputy battalion commander of the Shaked Battalion of Givati. He will be laid to rest in the Kiryat Shaul Military Cemetery on Sunday August 26th at 3:30pm.
Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir, 21, of Kfar Saba, was the unit’s medic. He fell in the line of duty while trying to save Major Oz. He will be laid to rest on Sunday, August 26th at 5:30pm in the Kfar Saba Military Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements for Corporal Tzachi Grabli to be announced.
TAKEN TO BEERSHEBA TRAUMA UNIT
The wounded soldiers were flown to the trauma unit of Beersheba’s Soroka Hospital where one is listed in serious condition, three moderate, and one moderate-to-light. Two soldiers were discharged.
All the dead and wounded are members of the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Infantry Brigade.
ONE TERRORIST KILLED IN THE OUTPOST
The first terrorist was killed inside the outpost. The second fled but was later found and killed by troops involved in the manhunt. He was hiding in area hothouses. A third terrorist believed to have transported the two to the area escaped back to PA-controlled Khan Yunis.
There are conflicting reports identifying the terrorists as members of Fatah while the DFLP claimed responsibility for the attack.
THE VICTIMS
Major Gil Oz was well known in his Kfar Saba neighborhood. When the bitter news broke, many area residents came to pay their respects, with most just standing quietly outside the Oz home in a solemn sign of solidarity. His parents and three brothers survive him.
Staff-Sergeant Kobi Nir was the unit medic. Family members are still waiting for the completion of the investigation to learn if enemy or IDF fire in the gun battle inside the outpost killed him. His family explained that as a combat medic his entire service was in a front line area. He served in southern Lebanon and now in Gaza. He was scheduled to leave Gaza in five days. When he served in Lebanon it was publicized that after one gun battle, he did not hesitate to treat a wounded Hizbullah terrorist.
Kobi was scheduled to complete his military service in seven months.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED
IDF OC Southern Commander Major-General Doron Almog has ordered an investigation to be headed by an officer of the rank of brigadier-general. The investigation will delve into the facts pertaining to the attack, how the terrorist entered the outpost undetected, preparedness status of the soldiers, response of the soldiers, command, and if the medic Kobi Nir was killed by enemy or IDF fire.
RETALIATORY STRIKES
IDF officials during the night confirmed that tanks and ground forces entered into PA-controlled Rafiach in southern Gaza and destroyed PA military positions. One soldier was wounded in the gunfire, sustaining very light injuries. He was treated on the scene and did not require transportation to a hospital.
PA positions on the Karni-Netzarim road in northern Gaza were also destroyed. The positions chosen were used repeatedly to launch attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets driving on the northern Gaza road.
The Office of the IDF Spokesman added that the PA’s National Security Service facilities targeted in southern Gaza were chosen because one of the terrorists that perpetrated the Marganit attack was a member of the NSS.
During the early pre-dawn hours air force F-15 and F-16 fighter planes on Sunday morning attacked PA terrorist targets in retaliation to the Gaza and Route 443 terrorist attacks on Saturday that claimed five lives and wounded ten.
Targeted in the aerial strikes were the main police headquarters in Gaza, an intelligence service and police facility in the Dir el-Balah area of Gaza, and police headquarters in Salfit south of Shechem.
Pilots reported accurate hits. All planes returned safely to their bases. PA officials report eight casualties.
TERRORIST’S MOTHER IS PROUD
The mother of slain terrorist Amin Abu Hatab expressed his pride in her son’s actions, adding that he did not attend his brother’s wedding on Friday night to prepare for the attack.
She added that as a child, he was injured in clashes with Israeli forces and since then, has dreamed of becoming a ‘Shahid’, a holy martyr.