Two years after surviving the Hamas-led massacre at the Nova music festival in October 2023, an Israeli man who watched his girlfriend and best friend murdered before his eyes, has died by suicide. Roei Shalev, 30, was found dead in his burned car just days after the second anniversary of the tragedy.

Hours before his death, he posted a message online saying he could no longer go on.

At least 378 people, including 344 civilians, were killed on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led Palestinian militants crossed from Gaza into Israel and attacked the Nova open-air music festival and nearby communities. This unprecedented attack prompted Israel to wage its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

On October 10, just three days after the second anniversary of the Hamas attack, Shalev posted a message on social media, which led to concerns among friends and family.

“Please don’t be angry with me. 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,” he said.

Hours later, he was found dead inside his burning car in Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media, the last time he was seen alive was when he purchased a can of fuel earlier that day.

Incidentally, his mother, who was very close to Shalev’s girlfriend Mapal Adam, also set her car alight and died just days after the Hamas attack.

On the day of the massacre, Shalev, Adam and his best friend Hilly Solomon tried to hide under a car as the Hamas militants stormed the festival. Shalev laid on top of Adam and the couple played dead for hours. However, both of them were shot, but Adam died on the spot.

Mapal Adam’s sister, Maayan, posted a picture of her sister and Shalev on Saturday, with the caption, “Roei was murdered on 7 October and died yesterday. I have no words and it will take time to find them.”

“Hope these two kids are hugging and smiling right now, hearts pressed together again.”

Meanwhile, the Nova Tribe Community Foundation, which supports survivors and their families, described Shalev as “a backbone of the community”, remembered for his bravery and kindness.

In a statement, the foundation said he should be remembered for “his beautiful moments, his courage, his leadership as captain of the Nova Tribe basketball team, and his unwavering support for friends during their most difficult times.”

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