From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 16, 2024
4 out of 5 ‘friendly fire’ fatalities in Gaza laid to rest
Cnaan Lidor is The Times of Israel's Jewish World reporter
Three of the five fatalities in Wednesday’s friendly fire shooting are buried in Karnei Shomron, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem simultaneously, following one earlier funeral.
The funeral of the fifth is on hold in anticipation of the soldier’s parents’ arrival from Argentina.
Thousands attend the funerals of Staff Sgt. Betzalel David Shashuah of Tel Aviv at the city’s military cemetery in Kiryat Saul; of Staff Sgt Gilad Arye Boim of Karnei Shomron; and of Capt. Roy Beit Yaakov of Eli on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
The family of Shashuah, 21, write in a statement that “the most important thing for him was unity among the People of Israel.” The family, who requested no media coverage at Shashuah’s funeral, describes him as a devoted son who was looking forward to serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Shashuah, who led a religiously observant lifestyle, volunteered to serve on the front even though he was furloughed ahead of his discharge, his family says. “He was a hero of the People of Israel,” they write.
Boim is laid to rest at the military plot of the cemetery of his settlement of about 8,000 residents in the West Bank. He is the eighth soldier from Karnei Shomron to fall since October 7.
“A boy of light and kindness, a loyal soldier of this good land, was killed defending the homeland. The People of Israel Live,” writes Boim’s uncle, Kalman Libeskind, a prominent Kan broadcast journalist.
Roy Beit Yaakov’s father, Avidan, in a statement called him “a quiet and gentle combatant, humble and goal-oriented.”
The family of Sgt. Ilan Cohen, who was born in Argentina and served in the IDF as a lone soldier, is on its way to Israel for the funeral, which is expected to take place in Jerusalem.
The fifth casualty, Daniel Chemu, was buried in Netanya ahead of the other funerals.
The troops belonged to the 202 Paratroopers’ Battalion.
