The investigation into Friday’s deadly terror attack at Reches Sela, between Har Bracha and Gilad Farm, is still ongoing. Because gunfire came from multiple weapons across a complex scene, investigators haven’t yet drawn clear conclusions about the full sequence of events. But analysis of footage from the scene already reveals the extraordinary heroism of Benayahu Mellet, a staff sergeant with the Gilad Farm rapid response team, along with several hikers—including an off-duty Golani Brigade soldier. Witness testimony and videos show that company commander Major Yuval Ezra also charged heroically into the scene when he spotted the weapon being seized.
Benayahu was called to the scene by the Samaria Brigade along with the Gilad Farm rapid response team after dozens of Arab rioters began stoning hikers and IDF lookouts spotted the incident. Analysis of video filmed by Arabs and edited by Kol Hayehudi journalist Elchanan Gruner shows the scene after the sheikh who grabbed the rapid response team member’s weapon shot and wounded both the team member and Benayahu Mellet, and after Major Yuval Ezra fell.
At this point, Benayahu—critically wounded in his upper body with his left hand shattered by a bullet—managed to rise from the ground, draw his pistol, and fire at the terrorists attacking him. The footage shows him shooting the terrorist next to him in the head, then firing about three more shots at other terrorists before collapsing. Analysis of all the videos suggests Benayahu had earlier managed to shoot one of the rioters who tried to grab his weapon. In total, he appears to have killed at least one terrorist and wounded at least two others, in addition to several he fired at where it’s unclear if he hit them.
1+The footage also shows S., an off-duty Golani soldier who was on the hike, firing at two terrorists who were attacking the wounded rapid response team member on the ground and trying to grab his pistol. The team member was fighting them off while wounded with a bullet in his hand and ear. S. managed to hit both attackers, killing one and wounding the other—without hitting the team member who was grappling with them on the ground. This allowed the team member to break free. The wounded team member managed to evacuate himself from the scene by driving until he reached rescue forces.
According to testimony collected, earlier in the attack, after the sheikh who grabbed the weapon fired at the team member and wounded him, one of the hikers—a reservist on leave from a tour in Lebanon—arrived and fired aimed shots at the sheikh, hitting him. The team member himself also managed to draw his pistol and fire one shot at the sheikh, but then two other attackers jumped on him and tried to grab the pistol. Analysis of the videos leaves some gaps where no footage has been found, so until the full investigation and ballistic tests are complete, it’s very difficult to determine which weapon fired the shots that hit each victim—contrary to spin and rumors that were spread and hurt the families.
1+Esther, Benayahu Mellet’s widow, said after the video was released: “Benayahu was a hero in life and a hero in death. This footage strengthens us because we see that Benayahu managed to hit the attackers around him. We demand full backing for our soldiers to shoot at the enemy without fear of investigations and arrests, so there won’t be more widows and orphans, God forbid. The murderers’ village of Tul must be erased, the Oslo Accords must be canceled, and Jewish communities must be established at the murder site on Reches Sela where Benayahu gave his life, and throughout our beloved land.”
Samaria governor Yossi Dagan said: “Benayahu Mellet is an Israeli hero who saved lives until his last breath. His entire life, from childhood, he was devoted to the Land of Israel and the people of Israel. I saw him so many times in intensive activity for the state’s security and protecting national lands. I saw him helping during a fire at Gilad Farm just days before the attack. Even in Friday’s terrible attack, as soon as the Samaria Brigade rapid response team called him up to rescue the hikers and he was critically wounded—he fought with his remaining strength, shot at the terrorists, and saved lives until his last breath. Our response is resolute: building the land—even more. Not even a thousand terrorists will stop us—the people of Israel will prevail, at Gilad Farm and throughout the land.”