Son Recounts Father's Final Act of Heroism During Deadly Terror Attack

Yoav Shukron, the 16-year-old son of Natanel Shukron, who was killed in a shooting attack in the Benjamin region, recounted the terrifying moments at the spring near his home. Speaking on Kan News radio, Yoav described how his father saved his life just before being fatally shot.

"We arrived at the spring before Yom Kippur, we immersed ourselves and went back up to the parking lot," Yoav explained. "Dad was sitting in the second row, drying himself, and I was in the seat next to the driver. Suddenly, he yelled at me, 'Yoav, there's a terrorist here, run.' I turned my head and saw the terrorist shooting my father."

According to Yoav, the terrorist was only inches away but initially fired at his father. "During that time, I moved between the seats to the driver's side, opened the door, and ran," he recounted. "The terrorist kept shooting at me while I ran to hide in the bushes."

Yoav hid until a military jeep arrived. When he returned to the car, he discovered his father had died. Natanel Shukron, 48, a father of six from the settlement of Eli, worked as an information systems analyst. He was buried in Eli on Tuesday night. The funeral was attended by senior military officials, including Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blott and Judea and Samaria Division commander Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller.

His wife, Merav, an AI lecturer at Ariel University, eulogized her husband: "In the last second, he warned Yoav. Thank you, Nati, for your bravery and for seeing Yoav." Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan told Yoav at the funeral, "Dad is proud of you for listening to him. You saved your life and the lives of everyone at the spring because the terrorist ran after you."

Family members noted that the tragedy echoes a past family trauma: Natanel's grandfather, who was a district rabbi in Algeria, was also murdered on the steps of a synagogue about 70 years ago.