Arutz ShevaSecurity14:43

Fallen Soldier Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilem Laid to Rest

By חזקי ברוך

Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba

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Hebrew · 8 newsrooms covering

Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilem, 20, was laid to rest in Hod HaSharon on Sunday after being killed in a shooting attack at Yehuda Junction. He fell alongside Sergeant First Class Ron Yonahtan Reitman when terrorists opened fire on an IDF force. The terrorists were later eliminated by additional forces. Suilem's father described the harrowing experience of learning of his son's death and spoke of Yuval's dedication to his faith and desire for combat service.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilem, 20, was buried in Hod HaSharon after a fatal shooting attack.
Suilem and Sergeant First Class Ron Yonahtan Reitman were killed by terrorists at Yehuda Junction.
Two terrorists opened fire on an IDF force and were later eliminated by additional troops.
Suilem's father learned of his son's death through a radio report before official notification.
Yuval Suilem was described as a dedicated son who aspired to combat military service.

Fallen Soldier Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilem Laid to Rest — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Sergeant Yuval Shai Suilem, 20, who fell in a shooting attack at the Yehuda Junction alongside Sergeant First Class Ron Yonahtan Reitman, was laid to rest in Hod HaSharon on Sunday. Hundreds of family members, friends, and civilians gathered at the military cemetery in Hod HaSharon to bid farewell to Suilem, who was killed on Friday. The attack occurred when two terrorists from Hebron arrived by car at the Yehuda Junction on Route 35 and opened fire on an IDF force operating at the site. A firefight ensued for over 20 minutes between the terrorists and soldiers. Additional forces were called to the scene, managed to flank the terrorists, and eliminated them.

Hours before the funeral, Yuval's father, Amnon Suilem, spoke to Kan Reshet Bet, recounting the difficult moments when the family received the news of his son's death. "Friday was hell. When they arrive at the house and knock on the door, we weren't there. My daughter received them. The news. They told us 'come home,'" the father recounted. He explained that before receiving the official notification, he heard about the attack on the radio and began to fear his son had been hit. He tried to contact Yuval without success. "I heard through the media and understood my son was hit. Through the radio in the car, not in any other way. I tried to call him, and he didn't answer," he said.

During the interview, Amnon recalled his last conversation with his son the Saturday night before his death. He mentioned wanting to bring joy to Yuval through a gesture related to their synagogue and family tradition. "He has a regular aliyah at the synagogue, Thursday at Bereishit. I wanted to make him happy, I bought him this aliyah," the father shared. Amnon described his son as someone connected to the synagogue who made an effort to attend prayers even when he returned home tired from his military service. "A good kid. Even when he was in the army, he would come to synagogue and fall asleep on the stand. He would tell me 'Dad, I'm tired, but I'm coming.'" The father also spoke of Yuval's determination to enlist in combat service and the efforts he made to achieve this. "He wanted to join the army, he wanted to go to combat. He signed up for the gym, took himself in hand. He trained," he said.