A survivor of the October 7th Nova festival attack in Israel, whose girlfriend and best friend were murdered in front of him, has tragically taken his own life just days before the second anniversary of the terrorist atrocities. Roei Shalev, who survived the shooting during the Nova attack, was found dead in his burned car north of Tel Aviv on Friday night. In a poignant social media post hours before his death, Shalev expressed his inability to endure the pain, stating, 'Please don’t be angry with me, please. No one will ever understand me, and that’s OK because you can’t understand. I just want this suffering to end. I’m alive, but inside everything is dead.'
The October 7th attacks, carried out by Hamas-led Palestinian militants, resulted in the deaths of over 370 festival-goers and those in nearby communities. Shalev's girlfriend, Mapal Adam, and his best friend, Hili Solomon, were among the victims. Adam's sister, Maayan, recounted how Shalev attempted to save his girlfriend, who was shot and killed. 'Roei lay next to the dead love of his life for about two hours until the army arrived and rescued him,' Maayan said. 'She was hit by a bullet that penetrated her ribs and went into her heart – I say her heart was so big that it was impossible to miss it.'
The tragedy extended to Shalev's family, as his mother took her own life two weeks after the attacks, devastated by the loss of her close friend, Adam. Maayan Adam shared a poignant tribute on Saturday, expressing her grief and hope for her sister and Shalev's eternal embrace. 'Roei was murdered on 7 October and died yesterday. I have no words and it will take time to find them. Hope these two kids are hugging and smiling right now, hearts pressed together again.'
The Nova Tribe Community Foundation, supporting survivors and their families, honored Shalev's bravery and kindness, describing him as 'a backbone of the community.' They urged people to remember him for his courageous support, his role as captain of the Nova Tribe basketball team, and his dedication to helping his friends during their most challenging times.
The aftermath of the attacks has sparked discussions about mental health support for survivors. Secular opposition politicians, including Yair Golan from the left-wing Democrats party, emphasized the need for assistance to prevent survivors from feeling isolated. 'Roei could not withstand the pain, but others are still here fighting, coping, trying to live. We must give them all the help we can – so they don’t feel alone,' Golan wrote. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact of such attacks and the importance of providing comprehensive support to survivors and their communities.
