Boy, 5, Critically Injured in Attack That Killed Cousin, Identifies Suspect

A five-year-old boy, Ray Hanan Alon, is recovering physically and mentally after being severely wounded in a brutal attack that killed his seven-year-old cousin, Hillel Mordechai Dadon. The incident occurred about a month ago in the backyard of a home in Beit Shemesh, where the two boys were playing in an inflatable pool. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Liel Ifargan, the son of a neighbor, allegedly attacked the children with a knife. Police described the murder as swift, taking less than 30 seconds, and noted that the motive remains unclear and may never be known.

Ray, despite his own serious neck injuries, was able to identify the attacker to his father, Shlomi Alon. "Because of his resourcefulness in telling what happened, he might have saved the next victim," Shlomi Alon said, expressing gratitude for his son's courage. He recounted hearing screams and finding Hillel injured, whom he brought inside and attempted to treat. Ray, in his own words, described the attacker as the one who "made us blood."

Ray's mother, Linoy Alon, spoke about the immense shock and the ongoing recovery process for her son. "It seems there is no motive and perhaps we will never know why," she stated. Ray underwent immediate surgery and tests upon arrival at the hospital, and the family has just begun the long road to his psychological and physical healing.

Investigators confirmed that Ifargan was arrested near the scene and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. A police official stated that the suspect acted with brutality and fled the scene. An indictment is expected to be filed against Ifargan next week. In a special gesture, the regional police unit organized a "police officer for a day" event for Ray, offering him a measure of normalcy amidst the trauma.