Tragedy Deepens in West Bank: Baby Ravid Chaim Gez Dies After May 15 Shooting

By: Fern Sidman

In a deeply painful development, baby Ravid Chaim Gez — the son of an Israeli woman killed in a terrorist attack — has died after fighting for his life for over two weeks.

His mother, Tzeela Gez, was ambushed by a Palestinian gunman on May 15 while on her way to give birth. She was critically wounded in the attack and died the next day. Doctors at Rabin Medical Center managed to deliver her baby through an emergency cesarean section, but the child had suffered severe oxygen deprivation.

Ravid Chaim was in critical condition from birth and remained in intensive care at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva. On Thursday morning, doctors confirmed his death.

Later that evening, he was buried next to his mother at Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem.

A Family Caught in Violence

The attack took place near the town of Shufa in Judea and Samaria (West Bank). Tzeela and her husband Hananel Gez were driving to the hospital to deliver their fourth child when they were shot at by a Palestinian terrorist. Several other vehicles were also targeted.

Hananel was initially reported as seriously injured but later assessed to have only minor physical wounds. The emotional toll, however, has been devastating.

In an interview days before his son’s death, Hananel told Israel Hayom that Ravid’s condition was “between life and death.”

National Grief and Outcry

The deaths of both Tzeela and Ravid have drawn widespread grief and sparked renewed concerns about the rise in terrorist attacks targeting Israeli civilians — especially in Judea and Samaria.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an intensive manhunt after the attack. A week later, the terrorist — identified as Nael Samara — was killed during a counter-terror operation near the town of Bruchin.

While this brought some closure, it did not ease the sorrow of a family torn apart.

Reactions from Israeli Leaders

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the international community’s silence on attacks like these. On social media, he criticized the global focus on “settler violence” while ignoring the ongoing terrorism against Jewish residents.

“Jews living in Judea and Samaria are the most attacked population in the world by terrorism,” Saar wrote.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also responded with a powerful statement:

“There are no words that can comfort the murder of a newborn baby along with his mother. The heroism of the pioneers of settlement in Judea and Samaria… is what will defeat all our enemies.”

President Isaac Herzog personally spoke with Hananel Gez and issued a public message of support:

“The entire people of Israel embrace him in his difficult time… He is a true Israeli hero.”

A Symbol of Grief and Strength

The deaths of Tzeela and Ravid Chaim have become a symbol of the heavy cost paid by families living in contested areas. Across Israel — in synagogues, homes, and government offices — their names are being spoken with sorrow and honor.

As The Algemeiner noted, the tragedy has sparked reflection on the security challenges in the region. Despite military responses, many fear the threat of terrorism remains ongoing and unresolved.

In the memory of Tzeela and Ravid, Israel mourns — and also reaffirms its resilience.