In an apparent act of appalling vandalism, deep holes were found Thursday night at the burial site of IDF Staff Sgt. Amit Ben-Yigal at Beer Yaakov military cemetery, in central Israel.
Ben-Yigal, 21, was killed overnight Monday during a raid on a terrorist hub in the West Bank village of Yabed.
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His family was immediately informed of the incident and his father, Baruch Ben-Yigal, arrived at the site accompanied by IDF representatives. Soldiers from the Military Rabbinate ensured that the deceased had not been desecrated.
What is known thus far is that a supervisor from the Beer Yaakov local council passed by the gravesite and noticed a foul stench. Next to the freshly dug grave, she discovered full sandbags, the grave completely open, and the upper portion of the coffin pried ajar. To her shock, she also found a note placed on the coffin that read, "Your son has 72 hours to be resurrected." The supervisor immediately reported her discovery to the police, which informed the family.
At the same time, GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Amir Baram and the deputy battalion commander of the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance unit, in which Ben-Yigal served, were paying their respects at the family home. Ten minutes after their arrival, they were also notified that vandals had dug up the grave of the fallen soldier -- but hadn't touched the body.
Digging tools were found next to the grave. The father, together with the Baram and the deputy battalion commander, ran to the military plot. The body was examined and it was determined it had not been desecrated. Troops from the Golani Brigade were stationed at the site to safeguard the grave until it could be resealed.
The IDF and Israel Police said in a statement that the incident would be investigated.
The Defense Ministry expressed "shock and disgust" over the incident, adding that the family would "receive all the support and help necessary."
Head of the Beer Yaakov local council, Nissim Gozlan, said: "Tonight [Thursday] at 7 p.m. I was summoned to the cemetery's military plot, after [officials] notices sings of digging at the gravesite of Staff Sgt. Amit Ben-Yigal. I immediately asked that the police and IDF be notified, along with our municipal police department. When I arrived at the fresh gravesite I was appalled to see that it had been dug up. After police and IDF representatives arrived at the scene, we called the father of the fallen soldier, Baruch."
Gozlan continued: "Luckily there were no signs that the body of the deceased had been desecrated. A decision was made on the spot to fill the grave with cement, to prevent a repeat incident… On behalf of the Beer Yaakov local council and on behalf of our dear residents, I am sending a hug to the parents of the soldier, Baruch and Nava, and to the rest of his family. We will do everything in our power to preserve the honor of our fallen soldiers and work to eternalize their memories."
