Family members of Brandeis University professor Ilan Troen killed in Israel attacks
WALTHAM - A Brandeis professor lost family members in the attacks in Israel that began on Saturday.
Professor Ilan Troen lost his daughter and son-in-law in the attacks. Troen is a professor of Israel studies at Brandeis, as well as the founding director of the Schusterman Center of Israel Studies at the school.
"My grandson has witnessed the murder of his mother by people who rehearsed what they were doing," Professor Troen told WBZ-TV.
50 year-old Deborah Matias and her husband Shlomi were killed by members of Hamas militant groups during Saturday's attacks on Israel.
"The terrorists came into their place, broke through the doors, shot them," says Prof. Troen.
He told WBZ-TV his daughter's last act of motherhood was defending her son, Roten.
"They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life. Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved," said Professor Troen, who was in Israel at the time of the attacks.
He rushed to a hospital in Southern Israel to meet his 16 year-old grandson Roten, who is recovering from his injuries.
"[Deborah and Shlomi] loved music, life, each other, their kids. I would ask him to think of the joy that they sought and had in their lives rather than the focus on that day," Professor Troen said.
A spokesperson for the university shared a statement, reading, "We at Brandeis are deeply saddened to learn that Professor Troen has lost his daughter and son-in-law in the tragic events that are currently taking place in Israel. Ilan, a Brandeis alumnus, and his family have long been treasured members of the Brandeis community, and we hold Ilan, his wife Carol, and his entire family in our thoughts. We condemn in the strongest way terrorism such as we have seen today perpetrated against innocent civilians."
