Rina (left) and Maya Dee
Two British-Israeli sisters shot dead by Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank have been named Rina and Maya Dee, like their mother, continued to fight for her life in the hospital.
Photos of the young women, aged 15 and 20, were released to the Israeli media after relatives were notified on Saturday.
p>Sisters' The mother, Lucianna, 45, remains in intensive care in Jerusalem after she was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital. She underwent surgery after being airlifted to Hadassah Medical Center.
Sisters' father releases statement
The sisters were born in London and were the children of Rabbi Leo Dee, former Chief Rabbi of the Radlett United Synagogue in Hertfordshire and Assistant Rabbi at Hendon, north London. The family moved to Israel in 2014.
Leo Dee graduated from the University of Cambridge with an M.Sc. and worked in venture capital before becoming a rabbi.
On Saturday, he issued a statement expressing confidence that “justice will prevail.”
"We are saddened by the current political tensions in Israel, caused by a lack of confidence in their first religious Zionist government" he said.
He was referring to the presence of a number of religious, ultra-nationalist politicians with ministerial roles in the new Israeli government that was formed under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January.
«Some think that a religious government will suppress the rights of minorities and become totalitarian.» he added.
"But in Israel this is not dangerous, as religious Jews simply believe in a balance between love and justice. For our part, we have felt the warm embrace of love from Jews in Israel and beyond, and we are confident that justice will prevail.»
He works at the Zait Ranaan synagogue in Efrat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences to the family.
He said: «On behalf of all the citizens of Israel, I express my condolences to… the family for the murder of two wonderful sisters, Rina and Maya, during the brutal attack in the Bekaa.»
«In these moments, if the family fighting for his life, and with all the people of Israel, I pray for their safety, and we all send our condolences and strength to this dear family at this moment of great sorrow.” /p>
Lord Wolfson of Tredegar David Wolfson also expressed his condolences on social media.
“Rabbi Leo Dee is my friend. His daughters were Maya, aged 20, and Rina, aged 15. Other than that, I have no words" he said.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: "No words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heartbreaking news of the killing by terrorists in Israel of the Maya and Rina Dee, daughter of Rabbitzen Lucy, who is in critical condition, and Rabbi Leo Dee, my dear colleagues.
“They were very well liked in the Hendon and Radlett communities in the UK, as well as in Israel and far beyond. We pray for refuah shelemah for Rebbetsen Lucy, as well as for the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack on the embankment in Tel Aviv.»
The Dee family immigrated to Israel from the UK a few years ago, and their mother, Leah, is a teacher, while Rina was in 10th grade, according to local media reports.
The sisters were on a hike with their mother on Friday when gunmen shot them.
An Israeli police officer checks a damaged car at the scene. Photo: Gil Eliyahu
A city on the coast of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. , is accessible from the highway through the West Bank.
On Saturday evening, the Israeli army said that three rockets were fired from Syria at Israel, one of which fell on the occupied Golan Heights.
According to reports, two other missiles fell in Syria and Jordan, respectively.
The rocket launches are a new escalation as Israel faces rocket fire from southern Lebanon, the Gaa sector and now Syria.
There was no immediate claim for missile launches, but a large number of pro-Iranian fighters are based in Syria, where Israel frequently launches airstrikes against such groups.
About 22 shell casings were found at the scene
The family was traveling in two cars, the father in front and his wife and two daughters behind him. Palestinian militants reportedly chased the car with the three women out of the way before riddling it with bullets. 22 bullet casings were found at the scene.
Sisters' The father turned the car around and returned to the scene as paramedics quickly arrived. Both sisters died at the scene.
Grainy footage posted online appears to show the moment when the attackers' the car slowed down, then the passengers opened fire before turning around the injured' vehicle and speeding.
Public identification of the sisters was delayed as the attack took place shortly before the start of the Jewish Shabbat, and their details were not made public until after sunset on Saturday.
The killings sparked a wave of grief in Efrat, a Jewish settlement near Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, as young residents staged an impromptu demonstration on Friday afternoon.
Both sisters died on the spot, and their mother was taken to the hospital
“It is with great sadness that we have received news of a shocking terrorist act in which terrorists shot at a car carrying a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat.” Oded Revivi, Mayor of Ephrat, wrote in a Facebook post.
"The father of the family, who was driving in another car from the front, turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters" He said. The mother was operated on Friday evening, and before sunset, family friends gathered in Efrat for a vigil.
On Saturday evening, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it was deploying soldiers in the central area. Israel will work with the police to prevent further terrorist attacks.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “We are saddened to learn of the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and serious injuries sustained by a third person. .
“UK calls on all parties in the region to reduce tensions.”
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