In one of the most heartbreaking tragedies to come out of the West Bank in recent days, a 30-year-old Israeli woman, Tzeela Gez, was shot and killed while on her way to give birth. What should have been a moment of joy for her family turned into an unthinkable nightmare. She and her husband, Hananel, were driving to the hospital from their home in the Bruchin settlement when a gunman opened fire on their car on Wednesday evening.
Tzeela was critically wounded in the attack, and despite doctors’ efforts to save her life, she passed away shortly after arriving at Rabin Medical Center near Tel Aviv. In a desperate attempt to save the baby, doctors performed an emergency caesarean section. The newborn was delivered in serious but stable condition and transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital for further care. Hananel, who was driving, suffered light injuries.
The Israeli military responded quickly, launching a manhunt for the attacker. Troops were deployed to surround the nearby Palestinian village of Bruqin, and an Israeli drone was used in the search. The gunman fled immediately after the shooting, and the IDF has since stepped up operations in the area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as “horrific,” saying, “This despicable event reflects the difference between those who cherish life and those whose mission is to destroy it.” Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed those sentiments and promised a strong military response. “We will identify the origin of the attackers and respond with maximum force,” he said.
No group has officially claimed responsibility, though Hamas called the attack “heroic” and described it as a response to Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The shooting marks yet another flashpoint in an already volatile region, where tensions have been escalating since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Tzeela was more than a victim of violence. She was a mother of three, a therapist specializing in trauma and anxiety, and a source of light to many around her. On social media, she often encouraged her followers to stay positive and strong despite the grim realities of ongoing conflict. In one of her posts from December 2023, she wrote, “Another moment I am grateful that I am breathing, that I am present and that I am here… even a small smile is spreading light.”
Her husband, Hananel, sent a message to their family group after the attack, saying, “Today is a sad day. Last night, my wife was murdered. We were on our way to the hospital to give birth to our fourth child… I am broken. But I thank God that I am alive, and I will be strong in order to continue to be a light to the world.”
Family and friends are struggling to process the loss. Tzeela’s sister, Shaked Force, described her as someone who was always smiling and full of strength, someone who gave her all to others. A close friend, Tal Shahar Carmon, shared how painful it was to watch Hananel explain to their three young children that their mother wouldn’t be coming home.
The attack has reignited calls from Israeli officials for harsher crackdowns in the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, went as far as calling for the attacker’s entire village to be flattened, drawing comparisons to ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Since the beginning of the conflict last October, violence has surged across the region. Over 950 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in the West Bank alone, while 52 Israelis, including security personnel, have died in what authorities describe as terror-related incidents.
Settler violence against Palestinians has also increased sharply, though reporting and data collection remain difficult. Many Palestinian residents say police often dismiss their complaints or make the process so difficult that they give up.
As the cycle of violence continues, the story of Tzeela Gez is a painful reminder of the human cost of this conflict. Her death—while on the way to bring new life into the world—has pierced the hearts of many. She leaves behind a grieving husband, three children, a newborn baby fighting to survive, and a country mourning yet another life lost to hatred and war.
In the words of her husband, “We will survive, succeed, and prosper.”
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