Mother of Terror Victim Neriya Leiter Shares Hospital Ordeal and Family Strength

Nearly a week after the ramming terror attack at the Bell checkpoint on Route 443, Hani Leiter remains at the intensive care unit of Shaare Zedek Medical Center, staying by the bedside of her wounded son, Neriya.

Neriya was critically injured in the attack when a terrorist deliberately rammed the police patrol vehicle he was inside. He suffered severe head and leg injuries, while the terrorist was eliminated at the scene. A nearby paramedic provided life-saving treatment within three minutes before he was evacuated to the hospital.

His father, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, who was abroad at the time of the attack, immediately flew back to Israel to be by his son's side. Upon arrival at Shaare Zedek, Neriya underwent two head surgeries. "The main concern was intracranial bleeding," Hani explains.

The Long Road Ahead and Uncertainty

During the surgeries, doctors inserted a drainage tube. The tube and the intracranial pressure monitor have since been removed to prevent infection. "Neriya is still on a ventilator. His brain stem is functioning normally. We need to protect him, but the doctors are less worried about immediate survival and more uncertain about how he will wake up. They have begun lowering the sedation, and we are waiting to see how he responds. Now is a time of great uncertainty. In the best-case scenario, we will begin the long journey of rehabilitation."

When asked how many children she has, Hani's response is heart-wrenching: "I have eight children. One in heaven, one in between, and six others."

Regarding her optimism, she says: "It really depends on my mood. When I have strength, I am optimistic. This is real optimism. We hear so many miracle stories of people who were severely injured and are functioning today, and that is very reassuring."

Reflecting on her personal feelings over the past week, she shares: "I think since the beginning of the event, I was running on a lot of adrenaline and shock. Today, for the first time, I felt tired. I eat, rest, and even go for walks. For now, just to Mount Herzl, I go to Moshe (her son who fell in combat and is buried on the mountain - K.A.). I need time to digest now, to let the adrenaline drop. At Mount Herzl, I can be alone for a bit, pray, and calm down."

Three years ago, the family lost their son Moshe at Beit Hanoun. Hani shares a chilling dream experienced by a cousin: "She dreamed of Moshe, entirely wrapped in light. Then Neriya arrives, and Moshe pushes him away. He tells him, 'Go back down now, what are you doing here?!' It is terrible to think about, but it's not entirely far-fetched, as Neriya was completely unconscious when he arrived at the hospital."

Routine in Intensive Care

After a week at the hospital, a routine has formed. "We very much want someone to be with him as much as possible, so we take shifts. Yechiel stays with him late, the younger men sit with him at night, and I arrive early. During the days, three new mothers also join: Sarah, his sister, who gave birth five days ago and was hospitalized 40 meters away; Eliraz, who gave birth three weeks ago; and Tofiah, who gave birth two and a half months ago. There is a breastfeeding corner here and someone who watches the babies so the daughters can also sit with Neriya. Of course, his wife Liat also sits with him constantly. She is an amazing woman, I have no other words for her."

Asked whether the other brothers received exemptions from reserve service after Moshe's death, she says: "Almost all the sons asked to return to combat after Moshe fell, and I told them I wasn't sure I could handle it. So some enlisted in logistics roles, but later drifted into combat. Eventually, Neriya also fought in Lebanon. When he was there, I spoke with Liat, and she said she was really scared. Then he returned and began doing reserve shifts beyond what was required, volunteering to accompany police operations in the West Bank."

Neriya, his wife, and their four children live in Havat Yair in Samaria. Hani notes that when Moshe was killed, Neriya stepped into his shoes, looking after family unity, family events, and acting as an anchor for everyone.

Taking Responsibility

Neriya and Liat's eldest son is 11, and the youngest, Neta Moshe, is two and a half—Hani and Yechiel's first grandchild born after the fall of their son Moshe. The morning after the attack, Liat told her children that their father was injured, and the eldest son asked that Harel, his cousin and the eldest son of the late Moshe, be with him. After spending long hours together, Liat's son explained to his mother that "it will actually be fun because he will learn to build a sukkah by himself.This is how they empower themselves, I think it's amazing. They take responsibility instead of being victims of reality," Hani explains with pain and pride.

Since the attack, the family has been flooded with videos and messages from around the world. "I am amazed by the strength of the people of Israel. Everyone is wrapping us in love and prayers for Neriya. It is something we have never seen in our lives. Even non-religious people are sending us energy and praying, even though they never prayed before. This is a different event. During the Ne'ilah prayer on Yom Kippur, Neriya was the cantor in Havat Yair, and he lifted everyone with his intensity. And two days later, the entire nation of Israel prayed for him."

A steady stream of acquaintances and family members arrives at the hospital. "People are constantly arriving. The Chief Rabbis were here, singer Avraham Fried, the Minister of Defense arrived, the President, an enormous stream of people wrapping us in support. Simply an amazing nation."