The infant son of Tzeela Gez, who was critically wounded in the same May 14 terrorist attack that claimed his mother’s life, died at Schneider Children’s Medical Center on Thursday after two weeks of intensive medical efforts to save him.
Tzeela had been on the way to the hospital together with her husband, Hananel Gez, to deliver the baby when a terrorist opened fire on their vehicle. Tzeela was fatally wounded, dying in the hospital shortly afterwards. Doctors managed to deliver the baby via emergency C-section, but he had suffered severe oxygen deprivation. He was named Ravid Chaim Gez, which had already been chosen by his mother.
Despite doctors’ efforts, his condition remained critical and never regained full consciousness. Last week, in an interview with Israel Hayom, Hananel described his son’s condition as being “between life and death.”
Tze’ela Gez was on her way to give birth when terrorists murdered her.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 29, 2025
Her baby, Ravid Chaim, was delivered in an emergency C-section.
He fought to live.
Today, he passed away.
A mother murdered on her way to give life and a baby who never got the chance to live it
Hamas… pic.twitter.com/IOQGNknLtM
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the news with “great sorrow and pain.”
“There are no words that can comfort the murder of a newborn baby along with his mother. The heroism of the pioneers of settlement in Judea and Samaria, and their dedication is what will defeat all our enemies. Earth does not cover their blood,” said Netanyahu.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, “How we prayed that little Ravid would be able to recover and live with his loving family,” he said.
“Last Friday, I spoke with Hananel, a true Israeli hero. It was a conversation I will never forget. The entire people of Israel embrace him in his difficult time and pray that he finds comfort and solace together with his children and the entire family. May their memory be blessed,” he added.
Meital Ben Yosef, chairperson of the Bruchin settlement, said the entire community mourns the loss of Ravid and Tzeela, according to Ynet. “A baby who was meant to enter the world with joy and anticipation took his last breath this morning, after two weeks of struggling between life and death.”
About a week after she was murdered, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had eliminated the killer, Nael Samara, in a counter-terrorism operation in the Palestinian village of Bruqin.
