Deputy Gondar Hani Abu-Rish, deputy commander of Ofer Prison, who drowned yesterday after rescuing his daughter, was laid to rest today (Tuesday) in Kfar Yarka, in the presence of thousands of people. As is customary among the Druze community, Abu-Rish’s open coffin was placed in the heart of the women’s hall, with hundreds of mourning women dressed in black and wearing a semi-transparent white Druze cape weeping, mourning and singing mourning songs. In the hall of the nearby People’s House, the mourning men stood and welcomed the comforters.
Among others, the funeral was attended by the Minister of Internal Security, Omar Bar-Lev, the Commissioner of the Prison Service, Rabbi Gondar Kati Perry and the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, a discouraged discourse. Minister Bar-Lev addressed during remarks he delivered to Abu-Rish’s daughter who survived: “Dear Dima, it is important for me to address you personally in these so tormenting moments. Father saved your life yesterday, and paid for it with his own life. He acted with heroism that is hard to describe in words.” .
He further added that Abu-Rish was “an outstanding officer still destined for greatness, and was a role model for his friends and comrades in the service. Ambassador of the Prison Service, Ambassador of the Druze community, and a wonderful symbol of the life of us all here, together.”
Abu-Rish’s 17-year-old daughter said today about what happened yesterday: “When I drowned I could not see anything. He did not think twice and came to save me, I only opened my eyes for one second, and in that second I saw him with a smile, and I knew my life was saved. “I will always remember that smile.”
After rescuing his daughter from drowning on Betzet Beach in the village of Rosh Hanikra, MDA staff evacuated him to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya while they performed resuscitation operations, but he was later pronounced dead. The girl did not need medical treatment. Abu Rish, 49, died For six children and as stated deputy commander of Ofer Prison.
The Commissioner of the Prison Service, Rabbi Gondar Kati Perry, paid tribute to Abu-Rish: “I received with great sorrow the news of the sudden and terrible death of the Prison Service officer, Deputy Gondar Hani Abu-Rish. “The Druze community and an exemplary symbol of professionalism and dedication. A man whose life’s work is rooted in a tremendous contribution to the security of the State of Israel.”