The family of one of the three victims who were murdered in the terror attack in Elad on Thursday, said their loved one was a hero and a victim after it had emerged that he drove the two terrorists to the predominantly Haredi city for illegal work.
"Oren was a victims of the deadly terror attack," said the family in a statement.
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The victims of the Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022, from left to right; Boaz Gol, Yonatan Havakuk and Oren Ben Yiftah
Oren Ben Yiftah, 35, a resident of Lod, is survived by six children and a wife, who posted a message on Facebook on Saturday night, calling on the public to have mercy on their family.
"Israeli people, spare us in this hard time. Please give us time to grieve during the Shiva days without dealing with defending ourselves from vicious attacks," she wrote.
"We're shocked by the discourse on social media platforms that mercilessly try to hold our beloved son accountable for the sinful attack that he himself fell victim to. Oren worked as an honest and innocent shuttle driver trying to make a living. Just as a taxi driver doesn't check who gets on the taxi, he wasn't required to check work permits, as opposed to a contractor that employed workers," said the statement from the family.
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Security forces pouring into the scene of the attack in Elad, May 5, 2022
(Photo: Shaul Golan)
"It may have been that at the end of that drive he was asked to drive workers to a synagogue construction site and that's what he did, not knowing it would be the drive to his death. As far as we know, Oren fought like a hero against the evil assassins that attacked him with an axe and a knife - like in the darkest times of exile and slaughter of Jews."
The family shared that their efforts in now directed towards helping the widow and six children deal with the horrible tragedy.
"We all hope that the bitter terrorists get caught and assassinated in the same way they took the life of Oren."
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Troops search for escaped terrorists who killed three in Elad on Thursday
(Photo: Dana Kopel )
Ben Yiftah was laid to rest in Lod on Friday, where his wife eulogized him: "My love, the perfect husband, I can't describe in words the pure soul that lays here in front of me. For me you are alive, only yesterday we sang the Lover's Oath song together".
"How did you leave me? How will I tell the children?" she continued. "You gave your soul for the name of HaShem. Oren, I love you, we were never ashamed to say so. We were together for 12 years and never gave up saying it to one another."
Rafael, Oren's son, eulogized: "I love you, when will you come back to pick me up from kindergarten? I hope that you feel good in the sky, I know that a bad man hurt you."
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Sabhi abu Shakir (L) and As’ad Alrafa’ani named as main suspects in Elad terror attack on May 5, 2022
(Photo: Israel Police)
On Saturday, it was reveaed that Ben Yiftah was the driver of the shuttle that carried the two terrorist to their murder spree, thninking he war driving Palestinian workers without an Israeli permit.
The terrorists - As’ad Alrafa’ani (19) and Sabhi abu Shakir (20), both from Rumana near the city of Jenin - escaped from the scene of the crime, and an ongoing manhunt is taking place in search for them.