First pics of the young Israeli soldiers killed when ISIS truck driver ploughed into them – and reversed over the injured
Yael Yekutiel, 20, Shir Hajaj, 22, Shira Tzur, 20 and Erez Orbach, 20, all died in the horrific attack in southern Jerusalem last week
PICTURES have been released showing the four young Israeli soldiers who were run down and killed by a suspected ISIS militant in a truck.
The oldest of the victims was just 22 in a tragedy that shocked the country, where young people are obliged to serve in the armed forces at the age of 18.
Lieutenant Yael Yekutiel, 20, cadet Shir Hajaj, 22, cadet Shira Tzur, 20, and cadet Erez Orbach, 20, all died after Palestinian suspect Fadi al-Qunbar, 28, ploughed into a crowd of troops as they got off a bus.
Some of the victims – from Givatayim, Ma’aleh Adumim, Haifa and Alon Shvut respectively – were posthumously promoted following the tragedy.
Hajaj’s rank was upgraded to lieutenant, while Tzur was promoted to second lieutenant.
Meanwhile, friends and relatives of those who died have been paying tribute to their fallen loved ones.
A pal of Yekutiel told she “had the biggest heart there was – a person full of light and happiness…everything she did, she did for others”.
And a friend of Tzur’s family said: “Our Shira was so full of life. We'll always remember her smiling and thinking of the next challenge.”
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Shir Hajaj’s mother Merav told of her anguish when she was told of her daughter’s death, saying: "We stood by the door and prayed for them not to come.”
Orbach – who was exempt from compulsory military service – fought to join up anyway.
A statement from his home town of Efrat read: "He will be remembered for his constant smile and his willingness to assist and volunteer for any good cause."
Some 16 people were also injured when al-Qunbar drove his truck into the soldiers in southern Jerusalem before reversing back over them again.
The most deadly attack in a year-long spell of violence ended when security forces shot dead the driver at the wheel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says all signs suggest that the driver was a supporter of murderous terror group ISIS.
Al-Qunbar was a builder from east Jerusalem who spent time in an Israeli prison.
Dov Lieber, the Times of Israel's Arab affair correspondent, reported his sister said he is a 26-year-old father-of-four who was religious but didn't belong to any terror groups.
She said: "God chose him for this martyrdom. We thank God for this... it is the most beautiful martyrdom."
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