Shirel Golan, a 22-year-old woman who survived the Hamas-led massacre at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, died by suicide on Sunday, at her home in Porat, northwest Israel. Her death occurred on her 22nd birthday after a year-long struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the horrific attack, according to a report from The Times of Israel.
Golan was one of thousands of partygoers who fled the deadly assault that took place on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, killing 364 people, many of whom were subjected to further brutalities, including gang rape and mutilation. Others were abducted and dragged into Gaza.
On the day of her death, Golan was supposed to celebrate her birthday with her family by visiting significant religious sites, including the Western Wall and the Cave of the Patriarchs. Instead, her family is mourning her loss, expressing deep frustration and anger toward Israeli authorities for failing to provide adequate mental health support in the wake of the traumatic events.
In an emotional interview with the Israeli media, Shirel’s brother Eyal criticized the state’s handling of her mental health care. “I saw that she had symptoms of post-traumatic stress, such as withdrawing and distancing herself from her friends. I asked her to take care of herself. She said that she doesn’t get any help from the state. If the state had taken care of her, none of this would have happened,” he said.
Eyal accused the state of “killing” his sister twice—once through the trauma of the attack and again through its failure to support her. He emphasized the need for Israel to “wake up” to prevent further suicides of those affected by the massacre.
Shirel had been hospitalized twice since the attack, and much of the limited assistance she received came from the Tribe of Nova Community, a grassroots organization formed by survivors and victims’ families. Her family believes that more comprehensive state intervention could have saved her life.
Golan is survived by her parents and four elder brothers.
