Israeli Nova Festival Survivor Found Dead Days After Attack Anniversary

Roei Shalev, an Israeli man who survived the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on the Nova music festival but witnessed the murder of his girlfriend, was found dead near Tel Aviv today.

Shalev’s body was recovered yesterday evening near Netanya, hours after he posted a message on social media expressing his despair and asking for forgiveness, stating, “I just want this suffering to end. I’m alive, but inside everything is dead.” Friends and family immediately launched a search after becoming concerned by the message. The discovery comes just three days after the two-year anniversary of the devastating attack that triggered the ongoing conflict.

During the October 7th attack, Shalev attempted to shield his girlfriend, Mapal Adam, and was himself shot, surviving by feigning death for hours. Tragically, Shalev’s mother took her own life two weeks after the initial Hamas attack. The Nova festival site became a focal point of the massacre, with over 370 attendees murdered. The psychological toll on survivors of the attack, and the wider Israeli population, remains immense, as highlighted by ongoing efforts to provide support for victims of terrorism.

Fellow survivors of the Nova festival massacre expressed their grief, stating on Instagram, “Roei was a pillar of strength within the community, and his death is an immeasurable loss for us.” They also urged continued sensitivity towards the mental health of those affected by the events of October 7th, noting that “many members of the Nova community are still experiencing traumatic moments daily.” The conflict has resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages, while Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports over 67,000 Palestinian deaths.

Israeli police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Shalev’s death.