Professor's daughter and son-in-law among the dead in Israel after Hamas attack

08 October 2023 , 16:08

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IIan Troen recently retired from teaching (Image: Facebook)

The daughter and son-in-law of a professor at a Boston college were among those killed in Israel as a result of a barrage of violent attacks by Hamas, it has been confirmed.

Ilan Troen, an 83-year-old professor who once worked at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, retired recently and relocated to Israel to be with his family.

The academic, who was born in Boston, told how his daughter and son-in-law were shot dead on Saturday by gunmen from the Gaza Strip, but they still managed to cover their teenage son in their body to protect him.

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Thousands more Israelis have been hurt and over 600 people are currently believed dead (AFP via Getty Images)

When Hamas fighters broke into their home, the family was all together in a safe room. The small youngster, who was shot in the belly, is in the hospital. He is Troen's grandson.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Following an extraordinary extremist strike, thousands more Israelis have been hurt and over 600 people are currently believed dead. The Jewish people are now launching a brutal counteroffensive in response to the heinous attacks.

Professor Ilan Troen reportedly said: "My daughter and son-in-law died today, but in their death, they saved his life. They followed his body."

'Several Americans' may be among the dead and seized in the Israeli terror assaults, according to US Secretary of State (AP)

"They were all together in the secure room. And they covered his body, and he was saved. Nevertheless, a bullet penetrated them and went into his abdomen."

'Several Americans' may be among the dead and seized in the Israeli assaults, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks on Sunday morning. The professor's tragedy was confirmed by Brandeis University.

They said in a statement: "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 Troen is regarded as a valued teacher and mentor by many journalists (AFP via Getty Images)

"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."

After completing his undergraduate studies there and earning his master's and PhD from the University of Chicago, Troen taught Israel Studies at the private school.

Ilan Troen is regarded as a valued teacher and mentor by many of the journalists I follow on social media, according to Bari Weiss. "Today his daughter and son-in-law were murdered in their home. They managed to save their son."

Historian Martin Kramer said: "My friend Ilan Troen, who has done so much for Israel studies in America, has suffered an unimaginable loss."

Residents yesterday mistook aggressive Hamas insurgents for Israeli soldiers who were reassuring them about the air-raid sirens when they answered their doors. Instead, one of the biggest catastrophes Israel has witnessed in recent years was brought on by the conflict.

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