Israeli Soldier Wounded by Rocket Last Week Dies

Netanel Maman was on leave when the rocket hit his car in Gan Yavne. The Israeli death toll is raised to 72.

Aug 29, 2014

Car damaged by rocket in Gan Yavne, where an Israeli soldier was wounded, and succumbed to his wounds a week later. Credit: Ilan Assayag

Shirly Seidler

Aug 29, 2014

An Israeli soldier who was critically wounded by a Gaza-rocket which exploded in Gan Yavne a week ago died on Friday, raising the number of fatalities on the Israeli side to 72.

The soldier, 21-year-old Sergeant Netanel Maman, suffered a serious head wound caused by a rocket fragment, and was treated for a week before finally succumbing to his wounds.

Maman took part in the fighting during the Gaza operation, but was wounded while on leave in his hometown. Aside from Maman, five others were wounded in the rocket attack, including Maman's younger brother Tamir. They have all been released from the hospital.

Sharon Ben David, a relative of Maman, said they were in the car when the rocket siren sounded, and Maman didn't have time to run for shelter. "After dinner, they went out for cigarettes," he said. Later, he describes, "we asked for a roll-call on our WhatsUp group, and Netanel didn't answer. A few moments later we got a message from Tamir that they were hit."

Netanel was survived by his parents Rivka and Shlomo, and six brothers. His funeral will be held on Friday at 1:30 P.M. at the military cemetery in Gan Yavne.