Israeli soldier dies after being hit in head with rock during West Bank raid
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli soldier died after being struck in the head with a large rock during a raid in a Palestinian village in the West Bank.
Sgt. Amit Ben-Yigal, 21, was wearing a helmet when he was struck early Tuesday morning in the village of Yabed, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. His death is the first military casualty in the West Bank this year.
“On behalf of myself and the citizens of Israel, I would like to send sincere condolences to the family of Amit Ben-Yigal, who was killed by depraved individuals during an operation last night. As has occurred in all the cases in recent years, the long arm of Israel will reach the terrorist and settle accounts with him,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Ben-Yigal was his father’s only child, and his father had to grant special permission for him to serve in a combat unit.
“I told him I’m proud of your decision,” Baruch Ben-Yigal told his son on the day of his conscription, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. “I’m broken and shattered now.”
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