An Israeli NGO, Shavei Israel, appealed for help for the family of an Indian-origin Israeli soldier, who was killed in a vehicle-ramming attack. The NGO asked people to help the family immigrate to Israel.
Shavei Israel helps in facilitating the immigration of Indian-origin Jews from Manipur and Mizoram, known as Bnei Menashe.
A 24-year-old Indian-origin Staff Sergeant Geri Gideon Hanghal was killed on duty earlier this month in a vehicle ramming attack near Asaf Junction, close to the West Bank‘s Beit El settlement.
“First Sgt Gideon Hanghal was a Bnei Menashe hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for Israel. Meanwhile, Gideon’s brother, along with his wife and two children, are among those still waiting to be allowed to make aliyah (immigration),” a message issued by Shavei Israel, according to PTI news agency.
“We must help Gideon’s family and honour his memory in the best way possible: for the Israeli government to bring all the remaining Bnei Menashe to Israel,” it further said.
The organisation believes that every one of the 5,000 Bnei Menashe in India who desires to make aliyah should be granted the opportunity as soon as possible. They called upon people to join them in their efforts to assist Gideon’s family and bring his remaining relatives to Israel.
The primary objective of Shavei Israel is to reach out to “lost and hidden” Jews worldwide and assist them in reconnecting with the people and the State of Israel. The organisation stressed the importance of helping the deceased soldier’s family remaining in India to immigrate, stating, “We owe him that much.”
Hanghal, who immigrated to Israel from Manipur in 2020, was a resident of Nof HaGalil and served in the Kfir Brigade’s Nahshon Battalion. His funeral drew a large crowd, and the community expressed shock at the loss of such a young life. Approximately 300 Bnei Menashe youngsters are currently serving in the Israeli army, with most of them in combat units.
The Bnei Menashe, originating from the northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram, are believed to be descendants of the Israelite tribe of Menasseh, one of the “lost tribes” of ancient times.
In 2005, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognised them as descendants of Menasseh, opening the door for their immigration to Israel as members of a “lost tribe”. To date, around 5,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community have immigrated to Israel, with nearly 1,500 arriving in the past five years. An additional 5,500 still reside in India, awaiting the opportunity to immigrate.
Nof HaGalil Mayor Ronen Plot expressed his condolences, stating, “The city of Nof HaGalil mourns and grieves the loss of Staff Sgt Hanghal. Gideon was a member of the Bnei Menashe community, which is very dear to my heart-good, humble and patriotic people.”
According to Israeli security sources, the suspect in the ramming attack was identified as 58-year-old Hayil Dhaifallah from the central West Bank town of Rafat. Video footage from the scene showed a truck with Palestinian license plates veering off a busy highway and crashing at full speed into an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) guard post adjacent to a bus stop before coming to a halt.