Brother of pizzeria worker murdered by teens: ‘God willing, we will bring them to justice’

Nearly a week after 21-year-old Yemanu Zelka was stabbed to death outside his workplace in Petah Tikva, the young man’s family speaks to reporters near the crime scene.

“On the day that all of the country was supposed rejoice, he went to work and didn’t come home,” says Geteso, the older brother of the deceased, in reference to the murder occurring on Independence Day.

“These criminals knew to wait for him outside, beat him… to carry out the stabbing at the right angle, leave him there bleeding to death and flee,” he continues.

Police so far have arrested eight minors, aged 12-17, on suspicion of involvement in the killing, which took place after Zelka asked a group of teens to stop spraying party foam in the pizzeria where he was working.

They left the restaurant, waited outside until Zelka finished his shift, and ambushed him once he left the building.

The attack was recorded by a security camera, which captured the gang of youths beating him, stabbing him and then running away as he lay bleeding.

“He was a truly good kid… you have no idea how much my brother helped the family, our mother, on a daily basis,” the older brother says in a shaky voice, adding that Zelka was a counselor in the Bnei Akiva youth movement and had served in the army.

Zelka’s sister, Yaros, tells the press that the youths who stabbed her younger brother are “extremely professional criminals,” adding that “their parents are also helping them.”

“This is something that should raise a lot of questions for us. God willing, we will bring them to justice — not just the kids but also the parents,” she continues.