A memorial service in memory of 26-year-old Ionas Karousis, who lost his life in a “blind” attack by two armed attackers in Tel Aviv, was held today at the Holy Temple of God Sophia in Thessaloniki, at the same time as his funeral in Israel .
His funeral was held in Jerusalem and Jonah’s last farewell broke hearts.
Relatives and friends and the victim’s girlfriend attended the Agia Sophia church at the same time, as well as members of the Terpniots Association of Thessaloniki, from the special hometown of the victim’s grandfather, the doctor Mina Karousis.
“They shot him as he was going to do his homework”
“Some crazy terrorists gassed him, while he went to do his homework, God bless our child,” said the victim’s uncle, Giorgos Karousis.
Mr. Karousis reiterated that what was spread and presented to Jonas as a soldier were lies, clarifying that he had done his military service in Israel, according to the law, since he was born and raised there and that he had citizenship in together with Greece. He noted that Ionas was a pacifist and that he was at the place where he fell dead to do his homework as a graduate student in architecture.
“Until a few days ago he was here, we also celebrated his birthday”
“Ionas was my nephew and we had a lot of fun as a family, we are all very close. Until he was here a few days ago, we also celebrated his birthday and he was full of joy and planning to build his life, finish his studies and make his career, just like his parents did . His girlfriend is here, she’s dressed in white and unfortunately she can’t speak at all. No one can speak, I took this burden, I don’t know if I’m colder, but I’m shaking all over the world, what can I tell you” he said.
“To stop this blood”
“Iona’s grandfather, Minas, was a doctor from Terpni, he settled in Thessaloniki for many years and was also the first president of our association” said the president of the Terpniots Association of Thessaloniki, Yiannis Noulis and continued: “His three children Left Minas, the elder Dimitris, also a doctor, Iona’s father, to Israel and settled there permanently and is considered one of the most famous neurosurgeons. His son Ionas, who was killed, had served in the Israeli army, because he had two citizenships, Greek and Israeli, that was basically where his life was, but they didn’t forget that Ionas came to Thessaloniki regularly for holidays we have to understand that the bleeding must stop, that a child will lose his life like this”.
(VASILIS VERVERIDIS / MOTION TEAM) 
(VASILIS VERVERIDIS / MOTION TEAM) 
(VASILIS VERVERIDIS / MOTION TEAM)