Border Police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who was critically wounded by a Palestinian rioter along the Gaza Strip-Israel border last week, succumbed to his wounds on Monday afternoon, after taking a turn for the worse on Sunday.
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Shmueli, 21 from Beer Yaakov, had been fighting for his life at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Soroka Medical Center issued a statement on Monday saying: "We regret his death. The medical staff fought for his life, and he underwent a number of surgeries during his hospitalization. Despite the efforts and because of his serious wound, the staff was forced to declare him dead. We send our deepest condolences to the family."
The Border Police also issued a statement: "We bow our heads in the memory of warrior Staff Sgt. Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who fell in combat during operations at the north of the Gaza Strip. May his memory be a blessing."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Monday, "I was deeply sad to heard the bitter news of Border Police fighter Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who was killed defending Israel. I have no words to comfort his family in their great grief.
"Barel with a fighter in his life and a fighter at his death. He fought for his life until the last minute, with all the people of Israel thinking of him and praying for him. I would like to send a hug to the family, who has lost what was most dear to them," Bennett said.
Amateur video from the Palestinian side taken during the rioting showed a protester running up to the concrete barrier and firing a pistol into a hole reportedly used by Shmueli.
The demonstration grew violent after rioters approached the fortified border fence, throwing rocks and explosives toward Israeli soldiers from behind a black smoke screen spewing from burning tires and attempting to scale the fence. Bracing for more hostilities, the military said it had sent additional forces to the Gaza border area.
