[Jpost] Border Police St.-Sgt. Barel Hadaria Shmueli died on Monday, succumbing to gunshot wounds inflicted on him by a Palestinian gunman during the Gaza border riots on Saturday, August 21."Today we parted with the child who sacrificed his life to protect us and be the best man he can be," Shmueli’s grieving parents said in a statement. "Barel, we may be saying goodbye but we will never forget you. It was a privilege to know you and a shame we didn’t have more time.""The medical staff fought for Shmueli’s life as he underwent several surgeries. In spite of all the efforts and due to the complex nature of the injury sustained, we were forced to determine his death," a statement from Soroka read.
Shmueli was a native of Beer Ya’akov in central Israel.
The 21-year-old sniper was in the special Yamas undercover Mistaravim Border Police Unit, and according to his father, was set to be discharged from his mandatory service in two months.
Shmueli’s commander, Chief Superintendent "K," told 103FM radio prior to Shmueli’s passing that the staff sergeant was "a valued, sociable, professional fighter" who had been mentoring new recruits.
Israeli politicians offered their condolences on Monday as news broke of Shmueli’s death.
"There are no words sufficient to comfort the family in its deep mourning," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. "Barel was a fighter in his life and in his death. He fought for his life until the last moment, as all of Israel prayed for him. I would like to embrace the family, which has lost what was most precious to it. May Barel’s soul be bound in the chain of life."