As first reported by Matzav.com, Ezra Schwartz is the American citizen who was shot dead near the Gush Etzion region in Israel today.
The incident followed an earlier stabbing attack in the city of Tel Aviv which saw two Israelis killed by a Palestinian man inside an office building.
Ezra was a native of Sharon, Massachusetts. There, he attended the Maimonides School in Brookline. During the summer, he volunteered at Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire. He had been learning at Yeshivat Ashreinu in Beit Shemesh.
A spokesman for Hamas, Hussan Badran, praised the attack calling it “an act of bravery” against “Zionist settlers.”
Seven others were lightly wounded in the attack, two Israeli women and five Americans.
Initial reports suggest that the terrorist fired at the cars as he drove by them and was even able to reload this gun. He then sped in the direction of the Alon Shvut settlement, but slammed into a car. The terrorist exited the vehicle and attempted to fire off further shots. Security forces shot at the terrorist and then arrested him.
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu condemned the attacks in Tel Aviv and the West Bank, saying, “The murderous terror has struck Gush Etzion and Tel Aviv. My heart is with the families of the murdered and I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. Whoever condemned the attacks in France needs to condemn the attacks in Israel. It’s the same terror. Whoever does not do this is a hypocrite and blind.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
What a beautiful young man. Just from looking at his pictures, one can see the inner beauty. You can see the finkeit/aidelkeit. What a tremendous loss for all of Kllal Yisroel. May HKB”H grant true nechama to his entire family.
he died oll kidush HaShem while he was living oll kidush HaShem. may he be a meilitz yosher for all of us
What a terrible tragedy R”L. May Hashem avenge his blood.
He looks like a sweet boy and a great big brother. What a loss. Boruch dayan emes.
We need the death penalty-that’s what these mass murderers would get everywhere else