AGONISING TOLL
Nearly 50 Nova massacre survivors have killed themselves since October 7, victim claims to Israeli parliament
Israel's health ministry contests this figure - and says the true figure is less than 10 suicides among the survivors
A VICTIM of Hamas's Nova festival bloodbath has claimed that at least 50 survivors have killed themselves since October 7.
Guy Ben Shimon told Israel's parliament today that those who escaped the massacre at the music event are struggling to survive the trauma of it.
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In an emotional testimony, Shimon bravely told the hearing: "Few people know, but there have been almost 50 suicides among the Nova survivors.
"This number, which was true two months ago, may have increased since."
In response, Israel's heath ministry said that Shimon's claim is untrue and there have been less than 10 suicides among survivors, reports.
Yet, Shimon described how his friends and fellow attendees were desperately struggling to recover from the attack.
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"There are many survivors who had to be forcibly hospitalised due to their psychological state.
"My friends are not getting out of bed, neither am I."
On October 7, as Hamas began their grisly campaign of terror in southern Israel, gunmen descended on paragliders into the desert festival near Kibbutz Re’im and rained bullets down on innocent revellers.
At least 364 were killed at the trance party - an event designed as a celebration of "peace and love" and now etched forever in the collective psyche of Israel.
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Shimon said this life has been irrevocably changed and pleaded for more state-led help for survivors.
"I am practically unable to do anything. I had to get a dog to help me survive in my daily life. The goal for all of us is to return to work and function normally, but we cannot do it without adequate help."
The parliamentary heading was focused on complaints towards state institutions towards survivors of October 7 and many issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis and care.
Another survivor of the Nova festival, Naama Eitan, argued: "Why should I constantly prove what I experienced?
"Why am I forced to go back to the details of what I experienced for them to believe me?"
Israeli hostage Eden Zacharia, 27, killed by Hamas in captivity after being kidnapped from Supernova festival on Oct 7
She continued: "Each morning...I relive the moments when I was hidden in the bushes with terrorists passing by me. I can no longer move on my own, I need to be constantly accompanied."
Studies suggest 600,000 Israelis are awaiting psychological support since October 7.
In total, Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and dragged some 250 hostages into Gaza.
The attack provoked Israel to launch what has become a brutal six-month-long siege, bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip.
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Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said more than 33,000 Palestinians have so far been killed by Israeli fire since Oct 7, including 46 in the past 24 hours.
Israel is under international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, especially northern areas where famine is expected by May, according to the UN.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123
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October 7 six months on
IN THE six months since Hamas attacked Israel, hotbeds of simmering tension across the Middle East have exploded into bloody conflict.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed the border between Gaza and Israel, slaughtering over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds more.
In the months since, Israel has almost completely destroyed the strip in an effort to eradicate the group and bring home its trapped people.
Amid international cries for peace, Israeli PM Netanyahu has vowed not to stop until Hamas is destroyed.
Operation Swords of Iron, the invasion into Gaza began with a blockade of resources to the enclave and an evacuation of the north.
It had two goals: to completely eradicate Hamas and bring the hostages home.
Over 100 still remain in the Strip and around 30 are thought to have been killed - possibly by IDF strikes.
Heavy airstrikes, the blocking of aid and the targeting of hospitals and refugee camps where the IDF says terrorists are hiding has left most of Gaza a smoking wasteland.
Israel has been the subject of enormous international scrutiny as the death toll of civilians in Gaza sits at an astonishing 250 per day.
The UN reports that over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in six months including more children than in four years of worldwide conflict.
For those who are still alive and crammed into the borderland of Rafah in the south, malnutrition is rife and famine is a fast-approaching fear.
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