British-Israeli Sisters Killed in West Bank Terrorist Shooting Named

Undated handout photo of Maia (left) and Rina Dee, the two British-Israeli sisters who were killed in a gun attack in the West Bank on April 7, issued by the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 8, 2023. Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via PA Media

Two British-Israeli sisters killed by Palestinian terrorists in a shooting in the West Bank have been identified as Maia and Rina Zakharan by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The sisters, aged 20 and 15 respectively, were shot dead in a Palestinian terrorist attack on their car near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on April 7.

In a statement on Twitter, Netanyahu offered his condolences to the family “on behalf of all the citizens of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin, Germany, on March 16, 2023. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Naming the sisters for the first time, the Israeli prime minister said: “On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I send my condolences to the Di Mafart family for the murder of the two wonderful sisters.

“In these moments, if the family is fighting for its life, and together with the entire nation of Israel, I pray for its safety, and we all send our condolences and strength to this dear family in this moment of great sorrow.”

The attack came after Israel launched air strikes at targets linked to Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon in retaliation to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas on April 6.

Hours after the British-Israeli sisters were shot dead, an Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed a group in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

Hamas praised both attacks as retaliation for Israeli police actions earlier in the week in the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Israeli medics and policemen check a damaged car at the scene of a shooting attack, in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank on April 7, 2023. Gil Eliyahu/Reuters

‘Justice Will Be Done’

In a statement to the London-based Telegraph newspaper, the girls’ father, Rabbi Leo Dee, said his family “have felt a warm hug of love from Jews in Israel and beyond” and “are confident that justice will be done.”

According to The Telegraph, Rabbi Dee was formerly the senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire and assistant rabbi in Hendon, north London.

The sisters were born in London, and the family moved to Israel in 2014.

The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the city of Bethlehem, according to the settlement’s mayor Oded Revivi.

The sisters’ 45-year-old mother was seriously wounded in the attack.

Their father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said.

‘Appalling’

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held a call on April 8 with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, to discuss the “appalling” attacks.

Lord Ahmad, the UK Foreign Office minister for the Middle East, said on April 8: “I condemn yesterday’s attacks in the West Bank, killing two British-Israeli nationals and injuring one other, and in Tel Aviv where an Italian national was killed and British nationals were injured.”

British Ambassador to Israel Neil Wigan added, “My thoughts are with those affected by another horrific terror attack last night in Tel Aviv, including one Italian tourist killed.

“British people are amongst the injured. We are in touch with the hospital and will offer our support.”

The Foreign Office released a statement saying it was “saddened” to hear about the deaths of the two British-Israelis and the “serious injuries sustained by a third individual.”

“The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions,” it added.

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said, “I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank.

“My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.”

Israeli policemen stand next to smoke from a fire following incoming rockets from Lebanon to Israel in Bezet, northern Israel, on April 6, 2023. Fadi Amun/Reuters

Retaliatory Air Strikes

Israel’s strikes on Gaza and Southern Lebanon came after at least 34 rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, according to the IDF.

The military said 25 of the rockets were intercepted by air defence systems. Axios reports that four of the rockets fell inside Lebanon and five fell into Israeli territory, including the northern town of Shlomi.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack from Lebanon but Hamas and Islamic Jihad are believed to be responsible this time, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told multiple media outlets.

Smoke and flames rise during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, on April 6, 2023. Bashar Talib/Reuters

The latest strikes come during the Muslim month of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday. Tensions have been running high following Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa mosque, regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam, in Jerusalem this week.

Since Ramadan began on March 22, a group of Palestinians has repeatedly attempted to stay overnight in the mosque, which is usually permitted only during the last 10 days of the holiday. Israeli police have evicted the group on a nightly basis.

Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets against alleged protesters barricaded inside, who in turn threw stones and launched fireworks against the police. More than 350 people were arrested, according to police, and at least 12 sustained injuries.

Katabella Roberts and PA Media contributed to this report.