Grandma Outsmarted Terrorist As They Stormed Her Home
An elderly couple in Ofakim, a city in southern Israel, found themselves in a harrowing ordeal after being held hostage by five armed Hamas terrorists. Rachel and David Edri, who reside far from the border with Gaza and were completely unprepared for an attack, were subjected to 20 tense hours as the attackers holed up in their home.
The attack occurred early Saturday morning, as thousands of rockets were launched by Hamas in a coordinated and deadly assault on Israel. Upon the warning siren, the Edris made their way to the community shelter. However, upon returning to their home, they were ambushed by the terrorists who had snuck in during the attack.
What Rachel Edri experienced next was nothing short of terrifying. One of the gunmen aimed his rifle at her and her husband, and placed a grenade on her head while screaming “Allah Akbar.” It seemed as though they were moments away from certain death. However, under immense pressure, Rachel managed to stay calm and think quickly.
She offered the attackers refreshments and even a meal, engaging them in small talk to buy time until security personnel could arrive. Despite the grave danger she and her husband were in, Rachel maintained her composure and tried to reason with the terrorists, reminding them that they were all brothers.
As a result of her quick thinking and brave actions, the tense standoff was able to continue until the elite police force and her son, a police officer, arrived at the scene. Her son attempted to negotiate her release, to no avail.
The Edris' and the terrified attackers were trapped in their home for the next 20 hours. Rachel, not wanting the men to become agitated or hungry, offered them food and drink, even bandaging one of their injured hands. She also made sure to recite the Jewish prayer of Shema Yisrael with her husband, seeking comfort and strength in their faith.
As the night wore on, Rachel remembered fearing that they wouldn't make it out alive but continued to pray and remain calm. Eventually, the security forces were able to enter the house and neutralize the attackers, with Rachel and David emerging from the ordeal unscathed.
Amidst all the chaos, Rachel never forgot to thank the security forces, even though it was their heroic actions that saved her and her husband. Her son, who had drawn a diagram of the house's interior for the rescue team and begged to join them, was told he could not.
In the aftermath of the terrifying hostage situation, Rachel expresses disbelief that she is still alive and thanks the security forces for their bravery. However, one of the rescuers responded by saying "You're the hero, Rachel." And indeed, her quick thinking and bravery in the face of danger saved her and her husband's lives.