A Nova festival survivor was tragically found dead on her 22nd birthday after taking her own life.
Shirel Golan had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder following the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, before taking her own life, her brother Eyal Golan said.
She was found dead in her apartment in Porat, near Netanya, in northwestern Israel, on her 22nd birthday, October 20.
Her brother has now blamed the State of Israel for her death, saying she did not receive any help, despite being hospitalized twice for her symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘If the State had taken care of her, none of this would have happened. The State of Israel killed my sister twice. “Once in October, mentally, and a second time today, on his 22nd birthday, physically,” he told local media.
Shirel Golan (pictured) had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, before taking her own life, her brother Eyal Golan said.
Shirel was found dead in her apartment in Porat, near Netanya, northwest Israel, on her 22nd birthday, October 20.
This aerial image shows abandoned and burned vehicles at the site of the October 7 attack on the Supernova desert music festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev Desert in southern Israel on October 13, 2023.
Festival goer Vlada Patapov (left) is seen fleeing the scene of the Nova festival massacre on October 7, where Hamas gunmen opened fire on revelers, killing hundreds.
Shirel was at the Nova festival in southern Israel with her partner Adi when Hamas terrorists invaded the area near Kibbutz Re’im and killed 364 revelers more than a year ago.
The couple hid under a bush for hours and narrowly escaped death when they refused to join 11 other people in a car, as Hamas killed those people or took them hostage soon after.
They were rescued by heroic police officer Remo Salman El-Hozayel, who brought them to safety. El-Hozayel had commandeered a car and reportedly saved 200 festival-goers.
In the weeks after the massacre, Shirel showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder such as dissociation and withdrawal, her family said.
Her brother Eyal said that when he told Shirel to seek help, she told him she had not received any help from the state.
The only help he received was from the grassroots association Tribe of Nova Community, founded by fellow survivors of the Nova festival and relatives of the victims.
Eyal said her family tried to take care of Shirel.
‘My mother was forced to retire early to be by her daughter’s side. “We didn’t move an inch from her, and the only time we left her alone was today, and she decided to take her life,” he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
Shirel was at the Nova festival in southern Israel with her partner Adi when Hamas terrorists invaded the area near Kibbutz Re’im and killed 364 revelers more than a year ago.
Destroyed cars and personal effects still remain scattered around the site of the Supernova Music Festival, where hundreds were killed and dozens taken away by Hamas militants near the Gaza border, on October 13, 2023 in Kibbutz Re’im, Israel.
Eyal said her family tried to take care of Shirel. ‘My mother was forced to retire early to be by her daughter’s side. “We didn’t move an inch from her, and the only time we left her alone was today, and she decided to take her life,” he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
Shirel’s devastated brother said the fact she took her own life should be a wake-up call for the state.
Shirel’s devastated brother said the fact she took her own life should be a wake-up call for the state.
Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Services has reportedly denied claims that the state was failing to care for Shirel.
In a statement she said she was “recognized and treated in the social assistance system even before October 7 and especially after.”
The ministry also asked survivors to contact its 24-hour hotline if they needed emotional support.
– For confidential assistance, call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for more details.