Families Mark 20 Years Since Hezbollah Rocket Killed Eight Israeli Railway Workers

On July 16, 2006, a Hezbollah-fired Fajr rocket containing metal pellets struck the Israel Railways depot in Hof HaSharon, killing eight employees instantly and injuring dozens. This week, families of the victims gathered near the attack site to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, sharing their ongoing grief and efforts to honor their loved ones.

Shoshana Damati, 90, described the pain as daily and unrelenting. Nava, mother of victim Shlomi Mansura, recounted the shock of the explosion and the long fight to memorialize the victims, including renaming a Haifa train station "Center of the Eight". Mansura, 35 at death, left behind two children. His mother said she rushed to Rambam Hospital after the blast but never found him among the wounded.

Relatives of other victims also spoke. Araleh Damati, sister of Esahel Damati, and his widow Tali shared the deep void left by his death, with their son Amit never having known his father. Sigalit Hazan recalled her brother Rafi’s last days before the attack and the pain of losing him shortly after his wedding. Yoav Levi, brother of Reuven Levi, witnessed the explosion and its aftermath but avoids returning to the depot due to trauma.

Rivka Ben Shimon and her daughter Asnat honored her son Shmuel, who had recently become a father. Parents Luba and Boris Feldman remembered their son David’s last visit to the northern border before the attack. Orly Elharar spoke of losing her husband Nissim and raising three children alone. The family of Denis Lapidus, who died at 24, could not attend due to emotional distress. Lapidus was a mechanical technician at the railway and immigrated from Belarus.

The families continue to keep the memory of the eight victims alive through memorials and public recognition, underscoring the lasting impact of the 2006 Hezbollah rocket attack on Israel Railways employees.