The morning after the tragic and deadly incident on Montefiore Street in Tel Aviv, a somber mood permeated the air. A beloved City Patrol Officer, Chen Amir, had lost his life in a senseless act of violence. As a mark of respect and remembrance, the locals, reeling from the incident, set up a makeshift memorial near the crime scene. On a bench nearby, they placed a poignant sign, which read, "Thank you, a true Israeli hero. Guardian and angel. From the residents of the neighborhood." Further accentuating their grief and gratitude, the community placed candles on the ground, spelling out the words "thank you".
Chen Amir had been serving as a patrol officer for the municipality of Tel Aviv. On that fateful Saturday on Montefiore Street, he was fatally shot. Although he was rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. As a testament to the terrifying nature of the attack, many of the bustling restaurants, which had been teeming with patrons before the assault, remained closed. But life in Tel Aviv, known for its relentless energy, had to move on. Locals speculated that by Sunday afternoon, these establishments would reopen, and the vibrant evenings of Nachalat Binyamin would reclaim their vitality. Despite being gravely injured, Amir, with the aid of his colleagues, managed to neutralize the assailant, potentially preventing a more catastrophic incident.
Chen Amir.
ā Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) August 5, 2023
42 year old Israeli man. Husband. Father of 3 young girls.#HERO!
Gave his life in defense of the people of Tel Aviv and the Jewish state, by stopping a Palestinian terrorist.
May his memory and courage always be a blessing! pic.twitter.com/kTQzgZ3ZLE
The perpetrator of this act, Kamal Abu-Bakar, had drawn the suspicion of Amir and his fellow officers before opening fire and mortally wounding Amir. After the shootout, Amir was raced to the hospital, receiving CPR en route. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the medical team pronounced him dead. In the aftermath, security forces initiated investigations, which included mapping Abu-Bakar's residence in the village of Romana, located in the Jenin region. The possibility of demolishing the house was being considered.
Amir hailed from Bat Yam, but his roots were in Kibbutz Re'im in the Eshkol region, close to the Gaza Strip. His grief-stricken parents, still residing in the kibbutz, have been receiving support from welfare workers since the tragic news reached them. Following the news of Amir's death, his colleagues and friends from the unit converged at the Ichilov hospital. A close friend lamented, "It's surreal. Just yesterday, we were together on duty, sharing jokes and laughter. Now, he's gone. Life can be so fleeting. He showcased his heroism till the very end. When I got wind of the tragedy, I felt compelled to be at Ichilov, surrounded by our mutual friends."
A few hours ago, an Israeli civilian was murdered in a Palestinian terror attack in Tel Aviv, and what does the radical left do? Hold a parade with the Palestinian flag in Tel Aviv.
ā Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) August 5, 2023
They have long lost their moral compass. Shame on them. pic.twitter.com/bPljBFSTAM
Perla Danoch, an eyewitness to the horror, recounted her experience to Yedioth Ahronoth reporters. "The sudden burst of gunfire was unmistakable. My partner instantly recognized it as a terrorist act. His first instinct was to find shelter, but we decided to sprint home. The trauma was too much for him, and he later suffered a panic attack."
