Feb 27, 2008 - Roni Yihye, 47, of Moshav Bitcha in southern Israel, a student at Sapir College, was killed Wednesday afternoon when a Kassam rocket exploded in a parking lot near the Sderot campus. He died shortly after sustaining massive wounds to his chest. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Roni Yihye was attending a course given by the National Insurance Institute in Sapir College, when the rocket struck next to him when he was inside his car at the campus parking lot. He died of shrapnel wounds to the chest.
Five years ago, the family struggled to fund a badly-needed kidney transplant for him, helped by all the residents of Bitcha. Before the transplant, related distant relative Avner Mory, head of the Merchavim Regional Council, Roni worked for a large construction company as the operator of a cement-mixer. Unable to resume physical work, Roni began studying logistics at Sapir after completing a long process of convalescence, out of a strong desire to once again be able to support his family. He would take hour-long walks every evening to improve his physical fitness.
Roni Yihye was buried in the Moshav Bitcha cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Esther, and four children - Niv, who is currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces, Lital, a 17-year-old high school pupil, her 14-year-old sister Coral and 8-year-old brother Idan; as well as by 10 siblings.