A Montreal family is waiting anxiously for the latest news on the condition of relatives who were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on Dec. 9.
Amichai Ish-Ran, 21, a dual Israeli-Canadian citizen, and his pregnant wife Shira were among seven people who were wounded when a gunman in a passing vehicle opened fire near the Israeli settlement of Ofra, north of Jerusalem.
Their baby boy, who was delivered prematurely by caesarean section, died Dec, 12, Times of Israel reported. Shira Ish-Ran was in the 30th week of her pregnancy.
Shira Ish-Ran was initially reported to be in critical condition from wounds to her upper body, after she was taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. The Israeli media outlet Arutz Sheva reported on Dec. 11 that her condition continues to improve and that she was conscious and communicating
Israeli authorities described it as a terrorist attack on civilians and are looking for one or more Palestinian assailants, while Hamas hailed the attack as an act of resistance against Israel.
Amichai Ish-Ran is the son of former Montrealer Galila Ish-Ran, who made aliyah. He is the grandchild of Adele Charness and nephew of Jordan, Cindy and Randy Charness, all of whom live in Montreal.
“You always worry about something like this happening, but never expect it,” said Jordan Charness. “You feel totally helpless. Every time you receive a text message, you panic, yet you want to know every five seconds what’s happening.”
According to Charness, two bullets passed through Amichai Ish-Ran’s leg, and another grazed it. He underwent surgery but nothing was broken and he is now getting around on a walker.
Charness said the couple lives about 20 km away and were visiting Shira Ish-Ran’s parents in Ofra.
Charness noted that Amichai Ish-Ran’s younger brother, who is in the army, was monitoring surveillance cameras in the area at the time of the attack. Charness said he saw the whole incident and called for emergency services right away, which may have saved the life of his sister-in-law, the most seriously injured of the seven people.
Galila Ish-Ran, who attended Hebrew Academy in Montreal, moved to Israel about 35 years ago, said Charness.
The family, he said, has “received messages of support from all over Canada and the United States.”