The baby of Tzeela Gez, who was shot and killed in a Palestinian terror attack in the northern West Bank earlier this month, died in the hospital after doctors struggled to keep him alive for the past 15 days, the Samaria Regional Council and the hospital announced Thursday morning.
Gez, 30, was shot and fatally wounded as her husband was driving her to the hospital to give birth on the night of May 14 from their home in the Bruchin settlement.
She was rushed to hospital after the terror attack, and her baby was delivered by emergency C-section at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
The baby, who was named Ravid Haim last week by his father in accordance with his late wife’s wishes, had been in serious condition since his birth, and was transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital.
Schneider Children’s Medical Center, where he was transferred after Beilinson, on Thursday morning announced “with regret that last night the baby Ravid Haim, who was born after the terror attack in Samaria about two weeks ago in which his mother, Tzeela Gez, of blessed memory, was murdered, has passed away.”
The baby had been in serious condition in the neonatal intensive care unit,” the hospital added. “Unfortunately, despite the many efforts, the hospital was forced in recent hours to declare his death.”
The funeral will take place Thursday in Jerusalem.
Gez’s murder drew outrage from around the country, and numerous leaders mourned the passing of Ravid Haim following Thursday’s announcement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “no words that can console the murder of a newborn baby together with his mother,” while President Isaac Herzog said the entire nation was “embracing Gez’s husband Hananel and praying for him.”
The head of the Bruchin settlement, Meital Ben Yosef, said the community was “in pain and mourning” for the passing of Ravid Haim.
“A baby who was supposed to be born and enter the world with great joy and great expectations, breathed his last this morning after teetering between life and death since the day he was born exactly two weeks ago,” said Ben Yosef.
The terror attack was carried out near the Palestinian town of Bruqin. A Palestinian terrorist opened fire on Israeli motorists from the side of the road, mortally wounding Tzeela Gez and lightly wounding Hananel.
She was hospitalized in critical condition and declared dead the following morning.
Last week, Hananel named the baby Ravid Haim in a ceremony at his home. His widow had herself chosen the name, the family said.
On Saturday, the IDF shot dead the Palestinian terrorist who killed Gez, when during a search of Burqin area he ran toward them while shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest).
The man, identified as Naael Samarah, was a member of Hamas and had previously been jailed for his activity in the terror group.
The IDF said that troops found an assault rifle and other equipment used to carry out the terror attack in a backpack Samarah had been wearing when he rushed them.
Several other Palestinians suspected of involvement in the attack have been arrested, including one accused of being the head of a terror cell that Samarah was part of.
In his condolence statement Thursday, Netanyahu expressed praise of the settlement movement, saying, “The heroism of the pioneering settlers in Judea and Samaria, and their self-sacrifice — that is what will defeat all our enemies,” using the biblical term for the West Bank.
In Herzog’s message of condolence, the president said he had spoken with Hananel last Friday who he described as “a true Israeli hero,” and said it had been a conversation he would never forget.
“My deepest condolences to Hananel Gez and his family on the death of baby Ravid Chaim who was taken from the womb of his mother, Tzeela, who was murdered in a brutal attack near Bruchin about two weeks ago, while she was on her way to the delivery room,” said Herzog in a statement to the press.
AFP contributed to this report