Moshe Ben Shoshana
Three Dead in Kissufim Crossing Terror Attack
(19 February 2002 - 07:07) The fatal shooting attack near the
Kissufim Crossing in Gaza at about 7:00pm Monday night
was described by military investigators as a well planned
ambush. An officer, a soldier, and a 30-year-old mother of
two were murdered. Three persons were wounded.
A lone terrorist armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and
grenades managed to make his way to the Kissufim Crossing,
a corridor to the Gush Katif communities. Ganei Tal resident
Ahuva Amragim was traveling in her white Volkswagen
Passat when the terrorist fired at the vehicle. She was killed
immediately. The Givati Brigade soldiers stationed in the
immediate area heard the gunfire and responded in two jeeps
led by Captain Mor Elraz who was accompanied by his
radioman, Sgt. Amir Mansuri. The first jeep was hit with a
burst of automatic gunfire, followed by hand grenades. The
captain was gravely wounded and the sergeant was killed.
It was then that Moshe Sapirstein arrived on the scene,
traveling in his private vehicle. Immediately realizing what
was taking place, he turned his vehicle and drove into the
terrorist, running him over. This however did not neutralize
the terrorist. The soldiers in the second jeep fired at the
terrorist. The return fire from the terrorist wounded
Sapirstein. A bomb exploded a short time later with
investigators explaining the gunfire from the second jeep may
have hit one of the explosive devices.
The wounded were transported to the Soroka Medical Center
in Beersheba. Major Elraz died during emergency surgery.
Sapirstein and two other soldiers remain admitted to Soroka.
The first reaction by the Gush Katif community was anger,
blaming the army for falling short of its responsibility to
protect area residents traveling on the main vehicular route.
The fatal attack occurred in the same area where Ettie Fahima,
45, of Netzer-Hazani was murdered on 27 November 2001.
SAPIRSTEIN, A HERO
Moshe Sapirstein, 73, a resident of Nšvei Dekalim, lost a hand
in a battle during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. On Monday
night, surgeons at Soroka worked to save his other hand that
was injured in the terror attack. He was also wounded in a leg.
Sapirstein is listed in moderate condition according to the
deputy director of Soroka, Dr. Ilan Zelinger, who added that
physicians are uncertain if they will be able to save his hand.
OBITUARY AHUVA AMRAGIM
Ahuva Amragim, 30, was a resident of the Gush Katif
community of Ganei Tal. Ahuva, an attorney by profession,
was the mother of two, Yitzhak, 4, and Ephraim, 2. She was
employed in a Beersheba law firm. Ahuva did not go to work
on Monday because Yitzhak was ill but during the afternoon
hours, she traveled to Bank Tefahot in Beersheba to sign on a
mortgage together with her husband for their new home in the
southern city. Friends explain the young couple did not plan
to relocate but made the decision to purchase a home. Ahuva
will be laid to rest in the Gush Katif regional cemetery. The
procession will leave Ganei Tal at 2:00pm this afternoon.
OBITUARY CAPTAIN MOR ELRAZ
Captain Mor Elraz, 25, from Kiryat Ata, was killed by the
terrorist gunfire responding in the first jeep near Kissufim.
Army officers arrived at the Elraz home late Monday night,
presenting the parents with the bitter news. Also present was
Mor's brother Shaked. Captain Elraz served in the Givati
Brigade since his enlistment. In addition to his army duties, he
managed to complete his degree in international relations in
Hebrew University where he was an excellent student. Mor
will be laid to rest in Kiryat Ata this afternoon at 3:00pm. He
is survived by his parents Shimon, an Israel Electric Company
employee, Nurit, a teacher, and his brother Shaked, a high
school senior.
OBITUARY SERGEANT AMIR MANSURI
Sergeant Amir Mansuri, 21, was a resident of Kiryat Arba. He
too was a member of the Givati Brigade and served as the
company radioman. Sergeant Mansuri will be laid to rest in
the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem this
afternoon at 3:15pm.
FATAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
The al-Aqsa Brigade of the Fatah terrorist organization
claimed responsibility for the attack. Fatah also claimed
responsibility for the fatal attack on Monday afternoon on
the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim road.
ARUTZ SHEVA, website, 19 February 2002
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Moshe Ben Shoshana
The following is a letter from Harvey Tannenboum:
Dear friends: many of you are recipients of emails from Moshe Saperstein, my longtime dear friend, in Neve Dekalim in Gaza. Moshe was seriously wounded
in today's latest arab suicide attack on a civilian car at the entrance to Gush Katif (Gaza), as he was returning from a shopping trip to Ashkelon. having lost
his right arm in the Yom Kippur War, Moshe has adapted over the years -- and now he has lost fingers on his (one) good hand. as i write this, it is around 4
a.m. in israel and he is still in surgery in Beersheva as the surgeons try to re-attach the fingers. he was shot in the hand and in the leg, according to his wife,
Rachel, with whom i just spoke. she had managed to call moshe on his cell phone and, somehow, he answered, "I'm shot!" Neighborhs quickly came to the
house but the road out of Gush Katif was closed for another hour, she Rachel was delayed in getting to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva. she
A terrific son, husband, father (3) and grandfather (8), Moshe is a true hero of the Jewish People. A writer, musicologist (largest collection of classical music in
israel), mensch, a great friend....may HASHEM grant him a speedy recovery. please pray for the health of MOSHE BEN SHOSHANA. thank you, mara
Moshe,the wounded soldier of Yom Kippur,who survived with one hand,is now undergoing surgery from last night's terrorist bullets into his good and only
hand. Who would imagine that a soldier,born in the USA,who made aliyah to fight in the Yom Kippur War,29years ago,now has to lie in an operating table
with another war wound.
The following from Harvey Tannenboum:
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