Israelis lining roads in Jerusalem wave flags on June 9, 2024, as they pay respects to the funeral procession for officer Arnon Zamora, who was killed in battle in a special forces operation in Gaza where four Israeli hostages were rescued a day earlier. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Thousands of mourners, including the families of hostages held in Gaza, attended a funeral in Jerusalem for Arnon Zmora, the police counter-terror officer killed during an operation to rescue four captives in central Gaza Saturday, Channel 12 news reports.
Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, who was killed in a mission to rescue hostages held in the Gaza Strip, June 8, 2024. (Israel Police)
“Arnon was always first and, during the heroic operation he led, he acted with courage and was a model for his fighters,” the head of the Yamam counter-terror unit says in eulogy at the funeral. “His actions brought light to the people of Israel and unfortunately he paid for it with his life. Instead of being part of the national jubilation, we are going into deep mourning.”
The channel also quotes Aviram Meir, uncle of rescued hostage Almog Meir, addressing Zmora’s family to pay his respects: “The blood of your children is mixed with ours. This is an unbreakable bond.”
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