Border Police St.-Sgt. Barel Hadaria Shmueli died on Monday, succumbing to gunshot wounds inflicted on him by a Palestinian gunman during the Gaza border riots on Saturday, August 21.
“Today we parted with the child who sacrificed his life to protect us and be the best man he can be,” Shmueli’s grieving parents said in a statement. “Barel, we may be saying goodbye but we will never forget you. It was a privilege to know you and a shame we didn’t have more time.”
“The medical staff fought for Shmueli’s life as he underwent several surgeries. In spite of all the efforts and due to the complex nature of the injury sustained, we were forced to determine his death,” a statement from Soroka read.
Shmueli was a native of Beer Ya’akov in central Israel.
The 21-year-old sniper was in the special Yamas undercover Mistaravim Border Police Unit, and according to his father, was set to be discharged from his mandatory service in two months.
Shmueli’s commander, Chief Superintendent “K,” told 103FM radio prior to Shmueli’s passing that the staff sergeant was “a valued, sociable, professional fighter” who had been mentoring new recruits.
Israeli politicians offered their condolences on Monday as news broke of Shmueli’s death.
“There are no words sufficient to comfort the family in its deep mourning,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. “Barel was a fighter in his life and in his death. He fought for his life until the last moment, as all of Israel prayed for him. I would like to embrace the family, which has lost what was most precious to it. May Barel’s soul be bound in the chain of life.”
קיבלתי בצער עמוק את הבשורה המרה על מותו של לוחם מג"ב, בראל חדריה שמואלי, שנפל בהגנה על ביטחון ישראל. הלב נקרע אל מול פניו השמחות ועיניו הטובות של בראל ז״ל.אין מילים מספקות כדי לנחם את המשפחה באבלה הכבד.בראל היה לוחם בחייו ולוחם במותו. pic.twitter.com/gMUQ37jn1y
— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) August 30, 2021
“Barel Shmueli died while protecting the homeland and residents of southern Israel. Only a few days ago I prayed for his recovery in his hospital room,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz wrote on Twitter.
בראל חדריה שמואלי, מטובי בניה של המדינה, נפל בהגנה על המולדת ותושבי הדרום. רק לפני מספר ימים נכנסתי לחדרו והתפללתי בליבי שיתאושש, אך הבשורה הקשה הגיעה ואיתה כאב גדול. בשם מערכת הביטחון, אני שולח תנחומים מעומק ליבי להוריו ולבני משפחתו. שלא תדעו עוד צער.
— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) August 30, 2021
“Our hearts are broken,” wrote opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, sending condolences on behalf of himself and his wife, Sara. “We prayed for a miracle. Unfortunately, the worst has happened.
“Barel fought with his friends with determination and heroism in the face of terrorism from Gaza. We will never forget his bravery,” Netanyahu concluded.
נשבר הלב. אני ורעייתי שולחים תנחומים מעומק ליבנו למשפחתו של בראל חדריה שמואלי, לוחם ביחידת המסתערבים של מג"ב, שנפל בהגנה על המדינה. בימים האחרונים התפללנו יחד עם כל עם ישראל לרפואתו. קיווינו לנס, אך לצערנו הנורא מכל קרה. אנחנו מחבקים את יוסי וניצה ואת כל המשפחה
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 30, 2021
“I am saddened and deeply pained by the passing of the Border Police officer St.-Sgt. Barel Shmueli, of blessed memory, who fell in the line of duty,” said President Isaac Herzog. “My wife, Michal, and I embrace his family and share in their heavy grief over the passing of such a beloved, dear son. May his memory be a blessing.”
עצוב וכואב מאד את לכתו של לוחם מג״ב, סמ״ר בראל חדריה שמואלי ז"ל שנפל בפעילות מבצעית בצפון רצועת עזה. במהלך השבוע האחרון הייתי בקשר רציף עם אימו ניצה, ונשאנו עם העם בישראל תפילות להחלמתו. רעייתי מיכל ואני מחבקים את המשפחה ומשתתפים באבל הכבד על לכתו של בן יקר ואהוב. יהי זכרו ברוך pic.twitter.com/zbrq4C2Ers
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) August 30, 2021
The Shmueli family has harshly criticized the defense leadership and government for the handling of the security conditions on the Gaza border and their response to Shmueli’s injury.
On Monday night they demanded that an inquiry be opened to examine the circumstances of the incident, N12 reported.
“A 12-year-old terrorist sniped at him point blank, and all this knowing that our fighters knew that it was forbidden to shoot and respond. Why was my son sent? Why? I want an answer,” Shmueli’s mother told 103FM last week.
In a recording released last week by Israeli rapper and right-wing activist The Shadow, Shmueli’s father lambasted Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
“Shoot, don’t shoot. What is this? You don’t know how to make decisions?” asked the father. “Are you afraid? Who are you afraid of? Wake up you coward, do something. Throw them another kilometer from the area.”
Shmueli was shot by a Gazan gunman while he was taking a firing position on the northern Gaza perimeter fence. He reportedly had switched positions with another officer before the shooting.
A video of the incident shows that rioters had amassed on the border barrier, and had flanked Shmueli’s firing position. The rioters made several attempts to steal his weapon, striking the barrel of the firearm with clubs, but Shmueli fended off the attacks. A gunman then aimed through the firing slot and fired a pistol at Shmueli several times point-blank.
A video shows Palestinians along the Gaza border fence this evening firing a gun into an IDF firing position. pic.twitter.com/WTln2UznEk
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) August 21, 2021
The gunman who mortally wounded Shmueli has yet to be identified.
Following news of Shmueli's death, Palestinians in the Gaza strip celebrated with sweets, according to Palestinian media.
استمرار توزيع الحلوى في غزة احتفالاً وابتهاجاً بمقتل الجندي الإسرائيلي القناص على حدود قطاع غزة . pic.twitter.com/kv5RR78Lfw
— غزة الآن - Gaza Now #عاجل (@GazaNownews) August 30, 2021
The IDF has accused Hamas of organizing the riots and has laid responsibility on the Gazan terrorist organization.
Following Shmueli’s injury, the IDF struck several Hamas positions in Gaza, and Bennett threatened on August 22 that Israel would settle the score with anyone who attacked Israeli soldiers.
Barel’s funeral took place at the Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv at 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
"You were all of our best friend," said Shmueli's friend, Dan. "The most talented, the best. God decided that he wants you with him. You're the biggest loss the world could have. I promise you that you are in my heart. You were the pillar of our friends. How do we go on? How do we get up? Thank you for everything you were. A big part of who I am is thanks to you."
"You're a hero," said Shmueli's commander, Dean Dahan. "That day, you took down five terrorists. Thank you for who you are and who you were. It was an honor to fight by your side."
Shmueli's girlfriend, Tzlil, said, "I always called you my angel, and I never thought I would stand here. You brought so much light into my life, you gave me unconditional friendship and love and warmth that no one can understand. Thank you for letting me be yours to the last minute. I love you."
Shmueli's father spoke at the funeral. "I promised you at your deathbed, when you took your last breath, that I would be strong for you. I love you," he said. He added a thank to the Israeli people for their prayers.
In her eulogy, Shmueli's mother promised to fight his battle for him. "The state and the IDF sent you to be an axe against the terrorists in Gaza," she said, adding that the only answer she can get out of anyone was that they didn't know the terrorist had hidden a gun down his pants.
"The next day, they closed the hole, but I cannot go on with my life. We have no more life."
She then called Bennett a disgrace to Israel and demanded that he resign, mentioning the fact that he had not even known Shmueli's name.
However, she ended the eulogy saying, "We love everyone. I blew up and Naftali Bennett because he is the prime minister right now. We are not right or left. I invite the prime minister to speak with me face-to-face."
Anna Ahronheim and Tzvi Joffre contributed to this report.