An Israeli soldier shot by a Palestinian terrorist at the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip on August 21 succumbed to his wounds on August 30.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a tweet that Barel Hadaria Shmueli, 21, “passed away today after being shot by a terrorist while defending Israel during violent riots at the security fence last week. May his memory be a blessing.”
Border Police soldier Barel Hadaria Shmueli passed away today after being shot by a terrorist while defending Israel during violent riots at the security fence last week.
May his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/GFKn6Jt055
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 30, 2021
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement, “I was deeply saddened to receive the bitter news of the death of Border Police fighter Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who fell defending Israel’s security. There are no words sufficient to comfort the family in its deep mourning. Barel was a fighter in his life and in his death. He fought for his life until the last moment, as all of Israel prayed for him.
“I would like to embrace the family, which has lost what was most precious to it. May Barel’s soul be bound in the chain of life.”
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett eulogized Border Police fighter Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who succumbed to his wounds earlier today:
"I was deeply saddened to receive the bitter news of the death of Border Police fighter Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who fell defending Israel's security.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 30, 2021
There are no words sufficient to comfort the family in its deep mourning.
Barel was a fighter in his life and in his death. He fought for his life until the last moment, as all of Israel prayed for him.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 30, 2021
PM Bennett: "I would like to embrace the family, which has lost what was most precious to it.
May Barel's soul be bound in the chain of life."
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 30, 2021
Shmueli was shot in the head at point-blank range during riots taking place at the border that weekend; a group of Palestinians found a small hole in the security fence that Shmueli was using for sniper positioning and fired at him through the hole. One Palestinian tried to take Shmueli’s gun, but Shmueli fought back and thwarted the attempt.
Shmueli’s parents had called the shooting of Shmueli “a big mess-up for the army” in a statement to Israeli media. “How did they even get to the fence? Since when is it prohibited to shoot them?” they said, according to The Jerusalem Post. They also said that Shmueli was scheduled for discharge in two months and that he was only at the fence to cover for another soldier who could not be there.
The riots, which resulted in 41 Palestinians injured, featured Palestinians throwing burning tires and rocks via slingshots toward the border fence. They come amidst negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding new terms of the May ceasefire, which have stalled, according to The Times of Israel.
