A Nova festival survivor has been tragically found dead on her 22nd birthday after taking her own life.
Shirel Golan struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, before killing herself, her brother Eyal Golan said.
She was found dead in her apartment in Porat, near Netanya in northwestern Israel, on October 20, on her 22nd birthday.
Her brother has now blamed the state of Israel for her death and says she has not received any help despite being hospitalized twice for her PTSD symptoms.
“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 her 22nd birthday, physically,” he told local media.
Shirel Golan (pictured) struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, before killing herself, her brother Eyal Golan said.
Shirel was found dead in her apartment in Porat, near Netanya in northwestern Israel, on October 20, on her 22nd birthday.
This aerial view shows abandoned and torched 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 of southern Israel on October 13, 2023
Festival-goer Vlada Patapov (left) is seen fleeing the site 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 stormed the area near Kibbutz Re’im and killed 364 partygoers over a year ago.
The couple hid under a bush for hours and narrowly escaped death when they refused to join 11 others in a car as those people were killed or taken hostage by Hamas shortly afterwards.
They were rescued by the heroic police officer Remo Salman El-Hozayel, who led them to safety. El-Hozayel had seized a car and reportedly rescued 200 festival goers.
In the weeks after the massacre, Shirel showed symptoms of PTSD, such as dissociation and withdrawal, her family said.
Her brother Eyal said that when he told Shirel to get help, she told him she had not received any help from the state.
The only help she had received was from the grassroots association Tribe of Nova Community, which was founded by fellow Nova festival survivors and relatives of the victims.
Eyal said his family tried to care for Shirel.
‘My mother was forced to take early retirement to be next to her daughter. We are not an inch away from her, and the only time we left her alone was today, and she decided to commit suicide,” he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
Shirel was at the Nova festival in southern Israel with her partner Adi when Hamas terrorists stormed into the area near Kibbutz Re’im and killed 364 revelers over a year ago.
Destroyed cars and personal belongings still litter the grounds of the Supernova Music Festival, where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas militants near the Gaza border, on October 13, 2023 in Kibbutz Re’im, Israel
Eyal said his family tried to care for Shirel. ‘My mother was forced to take early retirement to be next to her daughter. We are not an inch away from her, and the only time we left her alone was today, and she decided to commit suicide,” he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
Shirel’s devastated brother said taking his own life should be a wake-up call for the state
Shirel’s devastated brother said taking his own life should be a wake-up call for the state.
Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Services has reportedly denied claims that Shirel was not being taken care of by the state.
A statement said she was recognized and treated in the social security system “even before October 7 and especially afterward.”
The ministry also urged survivors to contact their 24-hour hotline if they needed emotional support.
– For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritan chapter. See samaritans.org for details.