Shirel Golan survived the October 7 massacre by hiding under a bush for several hours until she and her partnered were rescued by a police officer as terrorists killed civilians
A woman who survived the October 7 massacre at an Israeli music festival has been found dead on her 22nd birthday.
Shirel Golan suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the Hamas attack last year where nearly 800 civilians were killed with thousands injured and hundreds taken as hostages into Gaza. Her brother Eyal says she tragically died by suicide.
Her body was found in her flat in Porat, in northwestern Israel on Cotber 20 – her 20th birthday. Eyal has blamed the Israeli state for her death, claiming she did not get help despite being hospitalised for PTSD twice.
“If the state had taken care of her, none of this would have happened,” he was quoted telling local media. “The state of Israel killed my sister twice. Once in October, mentally, and a second time today, on her 22nd birthday, physically.”
Shirel had been with her partner Adi when they fled the Nova festival as Hamas terrorists started their brutal killing. They managed to survive by hiding under a bush for hours until they were found by a police officers, The Times of Israel reported.
While they hid, they avoided getting into another car whose occupants were killed or taken hostage by Hamas terrorists, Shirel previously told the Kan public broadcaster. In the following weeks, Shirel developed PTSD symptoms and was ultimately hospitalised twice – although her family said she was not recognised as a PTSD sufferer.
Eyal said when he noticed her sister withdrawing from people and pleaded with her to seek help. She claimed any help she received was from the Tribe of Nova Community association and not the state.
He added that his sister’s death should be a wake up call for the Israeli state. Israel’s Welfare and Social Services Ministry told The Times of Israel it “provides and assistance package and support to party survivors in a wide variety of forms,” including with the Nova association and other partners.
The Mirror has contacted Israel’s Welfare and Social Services Ministry for comment. The October 7 massacre directly led to the Israel-Gaza war which has resulted in the deaths of many Hamas leaders. But critics have condemned Israel’s conduct during the war and has accused the state of indiscriminate bombings that have in turn led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced millions.
Israel has justified its campaign saying they do not deliberately target civilians and that Hamas is to blame for civilian deaths by embedding their terrorists and munitions in residential areas.
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