Names of 4 Victims Murdered in Beit Shemesh Missile Strike Released

The names of four of the nine people killed in Sunday’s Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh have been released: Sarah Elimelech Hy’d, her daughter Ronit Elimelech Hy’d, Oren Katz Hy’d, and Gavriel Baruch Revach Hy’d. The deadly attack hit a shelter inside a shul, claiming the lives of civilians and wounding dozens more. Ronit was a volunteer for United Hatzalah in the city.

Initial assessments indicate that some victims were inside the shelter at the time of impact, while others were in adjacent buildings.

United Hatzalah Founder and President Eli Beer issued a message about Ronit, saying: “Today, we mourn the devastating loss of United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Ronit Elimelech, 45, who was killed in the missile strike in Beit Shemesh. Her mother, Sarah, was also among the victims. Ronit was more than a medic. She was a symbol of compassion, professionalism, and selfless dedication. In addition to responding to emergencies, she volunteered in our “Ten Kavod” project, caring for the elderly with dignity and love. Even in her final moments, as she was rushing with her family toward shelter, her medical vest and kit were by her side the very tools she used to save countless lives.”

Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled said at the scene that some of the fatalities were apparently inside the shelter when it sustained the direct strike. He noted that the Home Front Command is examining whether the shelter was functioning properly.

The IDF stated that a preliminary investigation found the alert system had operated as required prior to the missile impact.

Sixty people were wounded in the attack. Three are listed in critical condition, including a young girl. Five were moderately injured, among them two children, including a four-year-old, while the remainder – some of them children – sustained light injuries. Hadassah Medical Center reported that a pregnant woman was among the injured.

Fire and Rescue Services said more than 70 victims were evacuated from the scene.

Home Front Command commander Shai Klapper said the direct hit appears to have breached the shelter’s protective structure. Commander Peled explained that while reinforced shelters and protected rooms provide substantial protection from nearby impacts and shrapnel, they have not withstood direct hits from heavy ballistic missiles.

At the scene, the Police Commissioner stressed, “Protected rooms and public shelters remain the safest places to be during rocket and missile attacks,” despite the tragic outcome.