Everyone remembers the hallucinatory images of Hamas fighters who attacked the Nova festival on the morning of October 7, 2023. From the air but also on motorcycles, they stormed the festival meadow and shot at everything that moved. More than 350 festival goers were killed that day, an estimated forty others were taken as hostages. The deaths of some have now been confirmed, while others remain missing.
Six months later, many survivors are still struggling with severe trauma and needing treatment, although most had counted on more support from the government.
“Nearly fifty Israelis who attended and survived the Nova Festival attack committed suicide afterwards,” Guy Ben Shimon announced at a hearing before a State Audit Committee in parliament.
Shimon, who had to interrupt his emotional speech several times, addressed, among other things, the lack of shelter and assistance for victims. “Help that most people desperately need,” he said.
“Few people know, but there have been nearly 50 suicides among Nova survivors,” he claimed. “This number may even have increased in the meantime because the figures date from two months ago.”
Those present listened with their mouths open. Because the figures were new to everyone. But asked for a response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said the figures were “not correct”, without going into further detail.
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There are many survivors who were forced to be hospitalized due to their psychological condition. Others complain that the government does not take their complaints seriously.
“Every morning at seven o’clock I relive the moments when I was hidden in the bushes while the terrorists walked past me and shot. I can’t live alone anymore. I need constant guidance,” Na’ama Eitan also testified
Eitan described how she hid under a tree for seven hours, thinking she would be executed at any moment.
NASA, a third survivor, said National Insurance Institute review doctors failed to recognize the trauma of Oct. 7.
Last month, released hostage Moran Stella Yanai said she had not heard from the government since her release in November to ask if she needed help.
Gruesome rapes
The chilling report from the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel has previously documented horrific rapes.
A summary of the findings states: “Hamas terrorists used sadistic practices. Many women were tied up and abused. The genitals of both men and women were brutally mutilated with knives or bullets. Many survivors, especially young women, were later found naked.”
Yoni Saadon, a survivor who witnessed the rape of a young woman who suffered severe violence, described how one victim shouted, “Stop it, I’m already dying because of what you’re doing, just kill me!”
The witness said: “When they were done, they laughed and the last one shot her in the head.”
If you have any questions about suicide, you can contact the Suicide Line on 1813 or visit www.zelfbloed1813.be
© AP