Wounded in the Ramot Junction terror attack, Esther Lugasi recalls the chaos, fear, and miracle that saved her life — and calls for more Israelis to arm themselves.
For Esther Lugasi, Monday morning at the Ramot Junction in Jerusalem turned into a nightmare of gunfire, panic, and survival by miracle.
Speaking through tears to Arutz Sheva–Israel National News, Lugasi relived the moments when two Palestinian terrorists opened fire, killing six and wounding a dozen others.
“When I got off the bus, I started to hear gunshots. I didn’t know where it came from. I saw people running, so I ran with them.”
In the chaos, someone shoved her, causing her to fall and injure her arms. She was certain the blood meant she had been fatally shot.
“I felt like I was going to die… I thought, ‘Oh my G-d, I’m dead. But how am I running if I’m dead?’ Then someone pushed me and told me to keep running.”
She described the terror of those seconds:
“It felt like I was running for hours, but it was just seconds. Maybe because I was so afraid, it felt like hours. We crossed the street and hid with other women who were also scared.”
Taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center for treatment, Lugasi later realized how narrowly she escaped death.
“It’s really a miracle that they didn’t hit me.”
Along the way, she encountered one of the heroes who ended the attack:
“As I was running, I saw a soldier. I said to him, ‘Please, please, help us,’ because I saw he had a gun. He was looking where to shoot. Later, I heard that he killed the terrorist.”
🛡️ “More Israelis Must Carry Guns”
Lugasi believes the tragedy underscores the need for more armed civilians:
“There were only two people there who were armed. There could have been more dead. They should let more people carry guns to protect themselves. In our country, G-d protects — but people also have to do their part.”
Despite her ordeal, she refuses to tell her children:
“My little girl is already afraid because of the war with Iran. She gets scared when she hears a siren. I don’t think I’m going to add to her fears.”
With Rosh Hashanah approaching, Lugasi sees her survival as a second chance:
“I feel like I got another year. I got a new opportunity. If I got my life back, I have to get better.”
Her story is both a harrowing reminder of Israel’s vulnerability and a testament to courage, faith, and resilience.
