Former Israeli Soldier Is Eaten by a Shark in Occupied Palestine

 

Remains Found After Rare Fatal Shark Attack on Swimmer Off Israeli Coast

Hadera, Israel: Search and rescue teams have recovered remains off the coast of northern Israel, two days after a rare shark attack on a swimmer near Hadera. The Israel Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed the discovery on Tuesday afternoon.   

The remains have been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification. Local media reports indicated that the missing swimmer was a 40-year-old man from central Israel.

The extremely unusual incident occurred in the sea at Hadera, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv. Shocking footage shared on social media captured the moment, with beachgoers on Olga Beach heard yelling in distress as a man was seen flailing in the water a few hundred feet offshore.   

While sharks are known to congregate in the Hadera area, drawn by the warmer waters discharged from a local power plant, particularly at this time of year, they are generally considered harmless. This tragic event marks a significant departure from the norm, as there have been no recorded fatal shark attacks in Israeli waters since the country's founding in 1948.

Following the attack on Monday, police immediately closed the beach as rescue teams initiated a search for the missing swimmer. Witnesses recounted the horrifying scene, with one individual, Eliya Motai, telling Ynet news site, "I was in the water, I saw blood and there were screams... It's terrifying. We were here yesterday and saw the sharks circling us."   

The area off Hadera is a known gathering spot for dusky and sandbar sharks, attracted by the warm water outflow from the Orot Rabin power station, Israel's largest. Fish carried down from a nearby stream also contribute to the shark presence.   

Monday's incident is reported to be only the fourth documented shark attack in Israel's history, according to YNet, underscoring the rarity and shock surrounding this fatal encounter.