A soldier who was shot dead at an East Jerusalem checkpoint by a Palestinian gunman over the weekend was buried Monday night, as the search for the suspect entered its third day.
sergeant. Noa Lazar, 18, is buried in a cemetery in Kfar Yona, near Bat Hefer, her hometown in central Israel.
Hundreds of family and friends attended the evening ceremony, which closed for the press.
With Lazar’s grandparents at the time of his murder, his circle of relatives waited to arrange the funeral until Monday night, after the first day of the Sukkot holiday.
Among those who spoke at the funeral was Hagai Sin Itzik, the head of the army’s Erez police battalion, where Lazar served.
“Despite the challenges, you gave up, temporarily understood the importance of the paintings and made them with seriousness, determination and professionalism,” Itzik said in comments received via the Ynet news site.
“We were inspired by your quick-learning talents and learned to accept it with you. It has managed to thwart terrorist attacks and has therefore contributed particularly to the security of the country and its citizens,” its commander continued.
“Before long, you have an important and prominent figure of unity. You were loved, surrounded by friends, full of joy and had an infectious laugh. Your special character has influenced everyone.
Friends and acquaintances of Lazar remembered the fallen soldier after waking up from his death Sunday morning.
“She’s a glorious, bright, smiling, funny, charming and very friendly girl,” recalls Lihi Avizohar, who met Lazar from the young explorers’ organization’s activities in Bat Hefer, near the coastal city of Netanya.
Another friend wrote, “My beautiful angel, I can’t. I’m writing this to you. I love you. You are my dearest wife, and my center is damaged into a thousand pieces. “
Galit Shaul, president of the Emek Hefer Regional Council, commented on the “painful and complicated morning for Emek Hefer” and introduced her to Lazar’s circle of family and friends.
Lazar was shot dead on Saturday night along with a civil guard when a gunman opened fire at a checkpoint near the Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem. The guard was hospitalized in serious condition. Lazar rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries a short time later.
The alleged shooter named via Hebrew-language media as Udai Tamimi, a 22-year-old resident of the refugee camp.
Israeli security forces were still searching for Tamimi on Tuesday morning, involving large numbers of police, foot soldiers and Shin Bet security officers. The suspect managed to sneak into the refugee camp after the killing, police said.
During the attack, Tamimi casually emerged from the passenger side of a white vehicle stopped at the checkpoint, approached an organization and opened fire almost at point-blank range.
Video of the incident released Sunday showed two infantrymen falling to the ground after the shooting and the others took cover. It is noted that the gunman proceeded to shoot a user on the ground before fleeing, after his gun jammed.
According to a report via the Ynet news site, an initial investigation revealed that the shooting took place just as infantrymen were converting equipment, which was considered a tactical weak point at any checkpoint and required increased security. The incident is expected to result in the firing of some of the commanders at the scene, Ynet reported.
Four other people suspected of assisting in the shooting were arrested overnight from Saturday to Sunday and ordered to remain in custody until at least Oct. 16, while the investigation continues, according to a police statement.
According to Israeli media, the suspect’s mother, father and brother were also arrested. The brother surrendered by wandering around Israeli forces, as did the driving force of the vehicle Tamimi exited, Ynet reported. The driving force and 3 other passengers in the vehicle denied the wisdom of Tamimi’s intentions, Haaretz reported.
Access to Shuafat refugee camp and other spaces in East Jerusalem was severely limited amid the persecution and forces entering Shuafat on Sunday clashed with dozens of Palestinians, who threw stones and fired fireworks at troops, according to police and video from the scene.
Clashes resumed on Monday as forces appeared to be concentrating their efforts on locating Tamimi in the Shuafat area.
Saturday came amid rising violence in the West Bank.
Israel has carried out overnight arrests in the West Bank since a series of Israeli terror attacks in the spring killed 19 people.
Israeli fire killed more than a hundred Palestinians that period, making it the deadliest year in the territory since 2015. The IDF says the vast majority of those killed were members of terrorist teams or rioters who endangered soldiers.
In months, Palestinian gunmen have attacked army posts, troops operating along the West Bank security fence, Israeli settlements and civilians on the roads.
In arrest raids in the West Bank early Tuesday, 10 wanted Palestinians were arrested and several firearms were seized, the Israeli military said.
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