Honenu Atty. Chayim Bleicher; Photo credit: Honenu
Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:07 Six days ago, a Hamas terrorist opened fire on two Jewish children in Hevron who were miraculously uninjured. An IDF soldier neutralized the terrorist after a brief gun battle. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher is representing one of the children. He wrote a letter on behalf of the child’s family to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior members of the security forces, demanding that they order the immediate demolition of the terrorist’s house, expel his family, and take severe actions against the terrorist’s community.
In the letter, Attorney Bleicher described the terrorist’s vicious attempted murder: “Last Shabbat, a murderous shooting attack was carried out against Jewish children in Hevron. The terrorist opened fire from a range of only eight meters, directly at my nine-year-old client. The terrorist fired an entire magazine directly at the child. The bullets hit all around the child, including one round that hit a soccer ball near the child’s foot. The incident is fundamentally similar to the despicable murder of Shalhevet Pass, Hy”d, [also in Hevron, in 2001] in which the terrorist aimed directly at the head of a ten-month-old baby. My client was miraculously spared, but that does not diminish the severity of the attack and its murderous intent. This [attack] is a direct continuation of the atrocities carried out by the Nukhba terrorists on Simḥat Torah [October 7].”
Attorney Bleicher underscored the urgent need to implement a series of actions against the terrorist’s family and his community: “The attack crossed many red lines, requiring a response that will heighten deterrence. The terrorist served as an imam in a Hevron mosque and led dozens if not hundreds of believers in his murderous ways. They considered him a source of inspiration and a role model. There is an urgent need for decisive steps to reduce the motivation of terrorists to continue in their ways. First, we demand the demolition of the terrorist’s house without any delay. In terms of scale, this incident is no less serious than one ending in murder. Likewise, because the terrorist is a source of inspiration, action must be immediately taken against his family and the community who admires him. We recommend expelling his family and serving administrative detention orders to others in his community as deterrence and preventative measures. A way must be found to create a balance of terror regarding terrorists who are ready to die while slaughtering a small Jewish child. On behalf of my client, his community, and all Israeli citizens, I demand action with all available means to achieve the most suitable solution.”