The black vehicle seen in the background of the famous video of the invasion of Sderot referred to by
@CatShoshanna here shows the beginning of the Swissa family's chilling story on that day. Here’s what happened to them in detail:
The Swissa Family: Both parents, Dolev and Odaya, and their two daughters (aged 6 and 3) quickly got into their car following the non-stop rocket alarms on the morning of October 7, 2023. Their goal was to distance themselves from the southern city of Sderot and find a calmer, safer place for their daughters.
Near the commercial complex, while still inside Sderot, they encountered groups of terrorists in white pickup trucks, firing in all directions. In an attempt to save their lives, the father and mother split up, each taking one of the girls with them.
They tried to hide, but in vain: the terrorists shot Dolev and mortally wounded him. He was later evacuated to a Mada (Magen David Adom medical rescue team) team but died of his injuries.
The girl who was with the father was unharmed and managed to run back to her mother and sister.
The mother, Odaya, then put both girls into the car. A police officer passing by in a civilian vehicle instructed her to follow him to the police station, believing it to be a safe haven. At that time, it was not yet known that the station itself would become the site of a horrific massacre.
As the officer arrived, Amar Abu Sabila, a 25 y.o. Israeli Bedouin, passed by the mother and daughters. When he got out of his truck, he realized that Odaya was struggling to drive due to shock. He decided to assist her, got into the car, and began driving after the police officer.
Near the police station, the terrorists murdered the police officer, the mother (Odaya), and Amar.
Meanwhile, the girls were left in the back seat of the vehicle and were not physically harmed. In the next comment, I will attach the video of the two girls being rescued by police officers under relentless fire >>
I’ve never seen this footage before, and honestly it’s absolutely heartbreaking. You see a man and woman (mother?) desperately trying to grab the children out of the car and run to hide in separate areas as palestinian terrorists drive past. Even the family’s little dog can be seen jumping out of the vehicle in the chaos. It appears the man (father?) may have been shot by the palestinians in the pickup truck as they drove by him, and then you just see the little girl he was running with wandering around alone while the man is still on the ground.
Does anyone know who this family is or what happened to them afterward?