Herzl Shlomo

Jan 13, 2005 - Herzl Shlomo, 51, of Sderot, was one of six Israelis killed at the Karni Crossing when terrorists activated an explosive device on the Palestinian side, blowing a hole in the door, through which they infiltrated the Israeli side of the crossing and opened fire. Hamas and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsiblity for the attack.

The attack took place at about 22:45 PM, shortly before the closing of the Karni Crossing. After infiltrating the Israeli side of the crossing, the terrorists opened fire. As a result of the explosion and during exchanges of fire, six Israeli civilians - four Ports Authority employees and two truck drivers - and three Palestinian terrorists were killed, and five Israeli civilians were wounded.

Herzl Shlomo immigrated to Israel from Kurdistan with his parents in 1953. The family were among the first settlers of Sderot. Shlomo operated a forklift at the Karni terminal, after having served as a semi-trailer driver for the IDF for some 30 years. "We had fears but never believed this would happen," his son, Kfir, said. He was described by relatives and friends as a quiet man who helped others. "He was a family man who kept to himself," his brother-in-law, Elias Gabai, said.

Herzl Shlomo was buried in the Sderot cemetery. He is survived by his wife Zehava and three children: a son, Kfir, 21, and two daughters, Zlil, 19, and Ganit, 14 - the two eldest serving in the IDF and the youngest daughter in high school.