What happened

Shuki Benjamin, the brother of Ron Benjamin, a hostage whose body was recovered from Gaza, shared his grief and guilt over his brother’s tragic fate. Ron Benjamin, a passionate cyclist and music lover, was taken by Hamas terrorists and his body has now been returned.

Why it matters

This devastating news underscores the severe humanitarian impact of the actions by Hamas. The abduction and murder of innocent civilians not only causes irreparable harm to families but strengthens Israel’s resolve in the fight against terrorism. It reflects the formidable challenge Israel faces in ensuring the safety and security of its citizens from such hostile entities.

Details

According to Shuki, “We had great hope, and it blew up in our faces. We are hurting and broken. We fought, we tried everything we could to bring Ron home alive, and we didn’t succeed. I failed and I feel guilty.”

Ron Benjamin, aged father of Shai (25) and Gil (21), and husband to Ayelet, went missing after visiting Kibbutz Be’eri for a cycling trip on October 7, which was the day Hamas launched an attack. His bloodied, bullet-ridden car was found abandoned near the Mefalsim Intersection, leading to his capture and assassination by Hamas militiants.

The Israeli response

Brigadier General Ronen Manelis reported, “Ron was murdered during the October 7 attack at Mefalsim Intersection, and his body was kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.” The subsequent identification by medical experts at the National Forensic Medicine Institute and the Israel Police confirmed it was indeed Ron, bringing sad closure to his family after a grueling search.

The impact on the family

Ron’s daughter, Shai, expressed she deeply misses her father’s daily presence and loving gestures. “He always wished me good morning and worried about my well-being,” shares Shai. “He loved music, traveling, and cycling; the activities we did together were the happiest moments of our lives.”

A larger picture

The tragic loss of Ron Benjamin is a grim reminder of the threats Israel faces at its borders. It exhibited the extraordinary resilience and solidarity among Israelis in standing against terrorism while commemorating their fallen. Such incidents reinforce Israel’s continuous fight for peace and security, emphasizing the legitimacy of Israel’s defensive actions against terrorism.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.