Lucy Dee, the mother of two British-Israeli sisters, Maia and Rina Dee, who were tragically killed in a West Bank shooting, succumbed to her critical injuries on Monday. Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, were murdered on Friday when a Palestinian terrorist targeted their car. Lucy, 45, who was also in the vehicle, suffered severe injuries and was left comatose.
Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem announced Lucy’s passing on Monday morning, stating that despite “intense and relentless efforts,” her injuries were ultimately fatal. Rabbi Leo Dee, husband and father of the victims, informed the press that his daughters were struck by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle while Lucy was hit twice.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his condolences to the Dee family, saying, “How much we hoped, how much we prayed, but tragically Leah, mother of Rina and Maia of blessed memory, who was fatally wounded in the terror attack in the Jordan Valley, has died of her injuries. On behalf of the entire people of Israel, I send my warmest condolences to the Dee family and pray that they will know no more sorrow.”
President @Isaac_Herzog mourns the death of Leah (Lucy) Dee, who was murdered in the shooting attack in the Jordan Valley: pic.twitter.com/vn3u4uBPfM
— Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) April 10, 2023
Israeli forces continue to search for the attacker. Meanwhile, leaders in the international community have also expressed their condolences and concerns over the escalating violence in the region.
The Dee family, originally from London, moved to Israel in 2014 and resided in the West Bank settlement of Efrat. The tragic incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the region following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and Gaza and days of conflict at Jerusalem’s holiest site during the convergence of Ramadan, Passover, and Easter.
