Grieving Brother Honors Slain Soldier Ron Reitman at Funeral
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Hundreds attended the funeral of Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, killed in a Friday terror attack near Hebron alongside Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam. Reitman's brother and girlfriend delivered emotional eulogies, remembering him as a unique and beloved individual. The attack, which involved two terrorists, was thwarted after a 20-minute firefight, resulting in the terrorists' deaths and three injuries. Counter-terrorism operations are ongoing in the Hebron area.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman was killed in a terror attack near the Yehuda Junction on Friday.
- Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam prevented a larger attack by acting as a human shield.
- Hundreds attended Reitman's funeral in Ashkelon, lining the road with Israeli flags.
- Reitman's brother and girlfriend delivered emotional eulogies at the funeral.
- Two terrorists were killed and three people injured in the attack.
- Counter-terrorism operations are underway in the Hebron area.
Hundreds gathered Sunday at the military cemetery in Ashkelon for the funeral of Sergeant Major Ron Yonatan Reitman, who was killed in a deadly shooting attack near the Yehuda Junction in the Hebron area last Friday. Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilam were killed when they acted as a human shield, preventing a larger-scale attack planned by terrorists. Many mourners, including local police and city inspectors, lined the road to the cemetery, waving Israeli flags in a tribute to the fallen soldiers. The flags were distributed by the municipality to create a moving, silent human chain.
Reitman's brother, David Reitman, recounted the family's harrowing experience on Friday when casualty officers arrived with the devastating news. He shared that their mother was the first to grasp the tragedy, describing the moment of receiving the notification as an incomprehensible blow. David eulogized his brother as an exceptional individual, a sensitive person, a motivated athlete with intense drive, charismatic, serious yet playful, and always at the center of activity. He emphasized their deep bond, with Ron being his best friend and closest confidant, completing what he felt was missing in his life.
Ron's girlfriend, Ella, also spoke tearfully, expressing the profound loss and the void left in her life. She described their relationship, which began as close friendship and blossomed into pure love. Ella remembered his theatrical wit, his natural joy, and his constant concern for her well-being, struggling to comprehend a future without him.
Extended family members remembered Ron as a mature, smiling, intelligent, and sweet young man with a great sense of humor, whose presence illuminated his surroundings. The funeral drew many who came to pay their respects to the soldier who fell defending the homeland.
The attack occurred when two terrorists opened fire on a military force. The military chief of staff assessed that the terrorists departed Hebron with substantial ammunition to carry out a significant attack. A large quantity of ammunition intended for a larger-scale assault was found in their vehicle. After a determined 20-minute firefight, the two terrorists were eliminated by soldiers, while three other individuals sustained various injuries. Concurrently, IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police forces launched a broad counter-terrorism operation in Hebron, meticulously searching infrastructure for terrorist assets and weapons. This operation is focused on the area from which the terrorists operated and is expected to last several days.
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