Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed on the first phase of a peace plan, marking a significant step toward resolving the long-standing conflict between the two sides. Despite this hopeful development, the devastating consequences of the October 7, 2023 attacks and the ongoing conflict in Gaza continue to affect countless individuals and families deeply. On October 7, 2023, during a horrific terrorist attack at the Nova music festival in Israel, approximately 1,200 people were killed, including over 250 civilians such as children and elderly people. Among the survivors was Roei Shalev, who experienced unimaginable horror that day.
He witnessed the death of his girlfriend, Mapal Adam, and his best friend, Hili Solomon, both of whom were killed in front of him during the attack. In a desperate attempt to save Mapal, Roei shielded her with his own body as bullets tore through the crowd. Unfortunately, Mapal, aged 25, was fatally shot while hiding under a truck with Roei. Before she was struck, she sent a terrified text message to her sister, saying, “Don’t tell Mom, I’m scared. There’s a massacre. Bullets are hitting me in the head.”
Roei survived by playing dead for hours until the Israeli army arrived to rescue survivors. However, the trauma of witnessing such violence left lasting scars on him. The pain affected not only Roei but his entire family. Two weeks after the attack, Roei’s mother, devastated by the loss of Mapal, took her own life. Tragically, the sorrow did not end there. Just two years after the massacre, and days after the second anniversary of the attack, Roei Shalev, aged 30, was found dead inside a burning car north of Tel Aviv. Prior to his death, Roei posted a deeply emotional message on social media, expressing his inner pain and a desperate wish for the suffering to end.
He wrote: “Please don’t be angry with me, please. No one will ever understand me, and that’s okay because you can’t understand. I just want this suffering to end. I’m alive, but inside everything is dead.” Friends and family searched frantically for Roei after seeing his post. Emergency services later discovered his body near Netanya, and Israeli police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Mapal’s sister, Maayan Adam, who is a television presenter, shared a photo of Roei and Mapal together, posting a touching message: “Roei was murdered on October 7 and died yesterday.
I have no words, and it will take time to find them. I hope these two kids are hugging and smiling right now, hearts pressed together again.” The Nova Community Foundation, which supports survivors and families affected by the attack, called Roei “a pillar of strength” and reminded the public of the severe mental health impact such traumatic experiences can cause. The foundation urged greater awareness and support for those who continue to suffer long after the violence has ended. This tragedy is a stark reminder that the effects of terror do not stop with the end of physical violence.
Survivors often live with invisible scars, and the mental health consequences can be as deadly as the initial attacks. Israeli politicians and mental health advocates have called for increased resources and help for survivors of the October 7 attacks. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, stated: “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.” The massacre at the Nova festival claimed more than 370 lives on that day and left thousands more physically injured and emotionally traumatized. The loss of Roei Shalev adds another heartbreaking chapter to the ongoing human cost of the conflict. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or trauma, please seek help immediately. In the United States, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988.
