‘She Just Came Back From the Shelter’: Kiryat Malachi Woman Stabbed to Death at Home
The article explores a shocking murder in Kiryat Malachi, where a foreign national allegedly killed a woman and wounded her husband in their home just moments after a tense night of air raid sirens. It highlights the swift police action, the suspect’s detention, and the ongoing investigation amidst a backdrop of national conflict.
In a chilling incident that has shaken Kiryat Malachi, the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of a suspect accused of murdering 60-year-old Eti Cohen and injuring her husband, Rami, in their home. The horrific attack occurred on Thursday night, June 12, amid heightened tensions following the launch of Operation “Am Klaviya,” as air raid sirens sent residents scrambling to shelters.
The tragedy unfolded when Eti and Rami, both in their 60s, returned home from a bomb shelter, leaving their front door unlocked in the chaos. A foreign national from Sudan, in his 40s, allegedly broke into their residence and launched a violent assault. Rami noticed the intruder and confronted him, but the suspect grabbed a kitchen knife and fatally stabbed Eti. Rami was also attacked, sustaining injuries, though he survived. The couple’s vulnerability, compounded by the ongoing war with Iran, turned a moment of routine into a nightmare.
Israeli police responded swiftly, deploying large forces, including forensic investigators, to the scene. Southern District Commander Chief Superintendent Chaim Bublil held an urgent situational assessment that night, assigning the investigation to the Lachish Region’s Central Unit and ordering all necessary measures to apprehend the perpetrator. By early Friday morning, Kiryat Malachi police located and arrested the suspect, who lives nearby, and brought him before a judge at the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court, where his detention was extended pending further investigation.
This murder, occurring during a time of national alert, underscores the fragility of civilian life amid conflict. The suspect’s motives remain under scrutiny, with police working to uncover whether the attack was opportunistic or premeditated. The community mourns Eti Cohen, whose life was tragically cut short, as authorities continue to ensure justice is served.