Israeli woman, who survived Hamas attacks at Nova festival, commits suicide on her birthday

A 22-year-old woman, who survived the deadly Hamas attack on the Supernova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, committed suicide on her birthday after a year of battling the syndrome post-traumatic stress.

The deceased, Shirel Golan, was found dead in her apartment on her 22nd birthday, according to a Jerusalem Post report.

The report citing his family said Golan suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the horrific events during the October 7 festival, when Hamas attacked Israeli citizens, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 people.

She was the youngest of five siblings and is survived by her parents and four brothers.

In 22-22, you have need help.

מור שלם של פצועים , חים ״פשוטים״ ש״רק״… pic.twitter.com/eRvZBmW0hQ

— Michal Peylan • מיכל פעילן (@michalpeylan) October 20, 2024

The family alleged that Golan did not receive adequate assistance from Israeli authorities to provide him with the treatment necessary to cope with his experiences.

According to Golan’s brother, Eyal, she exhibited symptoms of PTSD, including isolation and social withdrawal. Although her family encouraged her to seek treatment, Golan reported that she did not receive adequate assistance from state authorities.

The report said she was hospitalized twice at Lev Hasharon Hospital in Pardesiya, but was never officially recognized as a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder from the Nova massacre.

“The state killed Shirel. If the state does not wake up, there will be more cases like this,” Eyal was quoted as saying.

He added that the State of Israel killed his sister twice, once in October, mentally and physically, a second time on Sunday, her 22nd birthday. He called on authorities to increase awareness and improve treatment of trauma survivors.

Golan was among thousands of revelers who fled the Nova festival as Hamas militants attacked and killed attendees in October last year.

A few weeks after the Hamas attack, she began developing symptoms of PTSD, including dissociation and withdrawal.