Shira Banki on Sunday succumbed to the
wounds she received during an attack Thursday on Jerusalem's annual
Gay Pride Parade.
The teen participated in the parade to
show solidarity with her LGBT friends. She leaves behind her parents
and three siblings, according to Haaretz.
“Our magical Shira was murdered
because she was a happy 16-year-old – full of life and love – who
came to express her support for her friends' rights to live as they
choose,” her parents said in a written statement. “For no good
reason and because of evil, stupidity and negligence, the life of our
beautiful flower was cut short. Bad things happen to good people, and
a very bad thing happened to our amazing girl. The family expresses
hope for a less hatred and more tolerance.”
Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-Orthodox man
who was recently released from prison after serving a 10-year
sentence for attacking three people who participated in the city's
2005 parade, wounded six people with a knife during Thursday's
attack. He was quickly subdued by police.
Appearing in court the following day,
Schlissel said that he did not recognize the court's authority over
him.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
offered his condolences to the family, saying in a statement that the
teen was murdered “because she courageously supported the idea that
everyone is entitled to live their lives in dignity and safety.”
Thousands of people on Saturday
attended rallies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to protest several recent
attacks, including Thursday's stabbing.