UNBEARABLE LOSS: Three Siblings Identified as Victims of Bet Shemesh Disaster
The names of three siblings, Yaakov (16), Avigail (15), and Sarah Biton (13), have been cleared for publication following a deadly Iranian missile strike on a shelter in Bet Shemesh.
The city of Bet Shemesh is in mourning following the clearance for publication of the names of three siblings killed in yesterday’s devastating missile strike. Yaakov Biton (16), Avigail Biton (15), and Sarah Biton (13) were among nine people killed when an Iranian ballistic missile scored a direct hit on a public shelter and synagogue.
The family has announced that the funeral procession will depart tonight, Monday, March 2, at 21:30 from the Seven Arches Hotel plaza on Har HaZeitim (Mount of Olives) in Jerusalem.
The Biton family has explicitly requested that politicians do not attend the funeral services.
Earlier today, authorities released the names of several other victims, including Sarah Elimelech and her daughter Ronit Elimelech (a United Hatzalah volunteer), as well as Oren Katz, Gabriel Baruch Revach (16), and mother and son Bruria Gloria and Yossi Cohen.
Identification Process: The National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir confirmed that the identification of all nine victims was completed this morning using scientific methods in coordination with the Israel Police.
Emergency responders from Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah described a scene of "unthinkable destruction."
While 24 people inside the shelter were miraculously saved, the direct hit led to the partial collapse of the structure, trapping those near the point of impact.
Survivors were evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem and Shaare Zedek hospitals for treatment.