It is reported that not too long after Gilad Shar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach HY”D got into the terrorist’s vehicle at Alon Shvut Junction they realized that they made a bad error. Authorities believe that the phone call from Gilad to the police ‘100’ number was minutes later, lasting for 2 minutes and 9 seconds. They were likely murdered immediately after the call.

Marwan Kawasmeh and Imad Abu-Eisha arrived at the hitchhiking post with their stolen Hyundai i35. The boys got in, unaware of the danger lurking in the vehicle. The three sat in the rear seat and the car drove off.

Minutes later they realized what was occurring and Gilad used his phone to call police. It is believed they were murdered immediately after that call. This is estimated to be 22:27. At 22:35 the terrorists returned to the junction and then turn around and head to the village of Dura, in the Hebron district. There they moved the bodies to another car and set the Hyundai on fire to destroy the evidence. They headed north again towards Halhul. The terrorists feared police and the IDF are on their trail because of Gilad’s call and at 22:45 the bodies are dumped near Halhul, where they were found 18 days later covered with brush, branches, nylon and rocks.

Based on information from one of the people involved in identifying the boys, one of captives resisted the terrorists a great deal.

The location of the bodies was 10km (6 miles) from Alon Shvut Junction where they entered the Hyundai on Thursday night the eve of 15 Sivan 5774.

The levayas will set out at 15:00 from the homes of each family. A joint levaya and kvura will begin at 17:30 in Modi’in. The kedoshim will be interred side by side.

A grandfather, Ezra Shaar, told Channel 2 News that “B’ezras Hashem we will be strong and continue everyone to be mispallel and be strong for the merit of the boys. We must remain strong, not just for ourselves the families, but for Klall Yisrael”.

The decision to bury them side by side was made by the families in consultation with police, rabbonim and others.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)