Roei Shalev, a survivor of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre at the Supernova music festival, committed suicide on Friday, a little over two years after his girlfriend and best friend were murdered in the terrorist attack.
The Nova Tribe Community Association, which supports bereaved families and survivors, said Shalev “was one of the pillars in our community, and his passing is an incomprehensible loss.
“We share our deepest condolences to his family, his friends, and all members of the community who are grieving this immense loss,” it stated.
“During these hard times, we choose to remember Roei in his most beautiful moments—for his courageous support of the community, his leadership as captain of the Nova Tribe basketball team, and his unwavering dedication to helping his fellow tribe members through their most difficult and challenging times,” the NGO continued.
The association said many people traumatized by the Oct. 7 attack continue to suffer severe emotional distress, and urged the public to remain vigilant and sensitive to the mental health of survivors and bereaved families.
Shalev’s mother, Raffaela, also committed suicide, a week after the massacre that wounded her son and killed his girlfriend, Mapal Adam, and best friend, Hilly Solomon. Shalev was shot in the back twice by Hamas terrorists that day as he tried to shield Adam from the bullets.
Israel’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that it “shares in the sorrow of the family and community of Roei Shalev, who took his own life last night.
“These days, as we mark two years since the Oct. 7 massacre and prepare for the return of the living hostages to their homes and the burial of the fallen, it is important to remember that the intense emotions we are all experiencing can trigger complex feelings,” the statement continued.
The ministry said the period may be especially difficult for those directly affected by the Oct. 7 attacks and their families, with many experiencing renewed pain and emotional distress. It urged the public to show heightened sensitivity and awareness toward others, remain alert for signs of mental distress and offer support to those in need.
Hamas terrorists murdered more than 340 civilians at the site of the music festival, while more than 40 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages.
In total, Hamas-led terrorists murdered approximately 1,200 people, wounded thousands and took 251 hostages that day, triggering the 24-month-long Israel Defense Forces operation in the coastal enclave.
The event held on Oct. 7, 2023, was officially called the Supernova Sukkot Gathering—part of the larger Nova events brand.
