As the Israel Defense Forces continue their pursuit of the terrorist behind Wednesday night’s deadly shooting near the settlement of Bruchin in the Ephraim Brigade sector, hundreds gathered today to bid farewell to Tzeela Gez, who was killed in the attack.
Manhunt Underway: No Leads Yet on Gunman’s Identity
The IDF has deployed the Dekel Battalion—made up of officer cadets from the military’s elite training course—to bolster the ongoing search. The cadets were expected to join the operation on the ground by nightfall, according to military reporter Doron Kadosh.
The search is centered in the villages of Brukin and Az-Zawiya, where soldiers are conducting intensive house-to-house operations. At this stage, Israeli security forces have not identified the terrorist, who fled the scene after carrying out the shooting.
A Pattern of Lone-Wolf Attacks
The shooting occurred in a sector that has already seen three similar attacks in recent months. Military patrols were present in the area just minutes before the incident. Though they reached the scene quickly, the gunman had already escaped. IDF analysts note a recurring pattern: a lone assailant, armed with a long rifle, targets Israeli vehicles and uses a laser pointer to blind victims just before opening fire. Authorities believe the same attacker may be responsible for all four incidents.
A Woman of Endless Compassion
The funeral for Tzeela Gez took place Thursday evening at the Givat Shaul Cemetery in Jerusalem. Her husband, Chanan’el Gaz, who was injured in the attack, delivered a tearful eulogy: “I stand here broken, but I thank God for the 11 years I had with you,” he said. “You were a woman of endless compassion, a true hero. You dedicated your life to healing souls—you always said it was a matter of life and death. You raised three sweet children with love, devotion, and warmth. We were so close to having another baby together.”
Fighting back tears, he added: “I need to ask your forgiveness—for not always doing my best, for not supporting and respecting you as much as I should have. To the people of Israel, I want to say: we are in deep pain. I told our son Lavie that we don’t understand why this is happening, but we believe everything has a purpose, and everything is love. No one can break us.”
Tzeela’s sister, Shaked, also spoke: “I’m still waiting for you to walk through the door and hug me. You gave everything you had to make sure everyone was okay. Your smile—it never left your face. That was your trademark.”
