The terrorists who wounded a pregnant woman and six others near the West Bank community of Ofra Sunday night have reportedly been captured, just hours after the woman’s baby, who was delivered by emergency C-section, died, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday.
The main suspect in the attack, Salih Barghouti, a taxi driver from the town of Kobar, was shot and critically wounded by Israeli security forces in the town of Surda, north of Ramallah, according to Palestinian sources. A second suspect, Waad Barghouti, was arrested when he arrived at the scene.
Salih Barghouti was employed at a Ramallah-based taxi company. An unnamed employee at the company told the Times that Barghouti had shown up to work over the past three days. The employee reported that Barghouti had been shot, but that his condition was unknown.
Shira Ish-Ran, a 21-year-old woman, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was seriously wounded in the shooting. Her husband Amichai was also injured.
The people wounded in the attack had been leaving a Channukah celebration in Ofra and were waiting at a hitchhiking station and bus stop when a white car drove by, and someone inside opened fire.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the baby’s parents had been able to visit him for the first time Wednesday morning.
“The baby died embraced by his family’s love,” Dr. Alona Ben Nun, the head of Shaarei Tzedek Hospital’s neo-natal unit, said. “The baby received the maximal care possible but was not able to survive his injuries,” she added.
Upon hearing of the baby’s death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Our hearts are with Shira and Amichai over the passing of their four-day-old son who did not even have a name.”
President Reuven Rivlin called the parents “true heroes,” and added, “We are with you, embracing you, and will not rest until this despicable terrorism is uprooted.”
Hundreds attended the baby’s funeral, who was named Amiad Yisrael before he was buried.
[Photo: ILTV ISRAEL DAILY / YouTube ]