Two British-Israeli sisters whose father used to be a Hendon rabbi have been killed in a gun attack in the occupied West Bank.
Rina and Maia Dee, both born in London, were shot dead in the attack on their car near an Israeli settlement on Friday (April 7).
Their father, Rabbi Leo Dee, reportedly used to serve as assistant rabbi at Hendon United Synagogue in Raleigh Close, before he became the senior rabbi at Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire.
After the attack, which also wounded his 45-year-old wife, Rebbetzen Lucy, he said that he was “confident that justice will be done”.
The family moved to Israel in 2014 and lived near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
The attack on the sisters and their mother by Palestinian assailants came after Israel launched air strikes at Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Tensions have been heightened by days of fighting during the rare convergence of Ramadan, Passover and Easter.
Late on Friday, 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.
UK Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said: “No words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heart-breaking news of the murder by terrorists in Israel of Maya and Rina Dee, daughters of Rebbetzen Lucy, who is in a critical condition and Rabbi Leo Dee, my dear colleagues.
“They were much loved in the Hendon and Radlett communities in the UK as well as in Israel, and well beyond.
“We pray for a refuah shelema [full recovery] for Rebbetzen Lucy and also for those injured in the terrorist attack yesterday on the promenade in Tel Aviv."
They were much loved in the Hendon and Radlett communities in the UK as well as in Israel, and well beyond. We pray for a refuah shelema for Rebbetzen Lucy and also for those injured in the terrorist attack yesterday on the promenade in Tel Aviv." 2/2
— Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) April 8, 2023
The sisters’ funeral is scheduled for today (April 9) at a cemetery in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion in the occupied West Bank.
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”.
A spokesperson added: “The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions.”
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