Hamas Attack Survivor Dies By Suicide On 22nd Birthday, Family Cites PTSD

Shirel Golan's family blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government for turning a blind eye to Hamas attack survivors.

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An Israeli woman who survived Hamas' attack on the Supernova music festival on October 7 last year has died by suicide after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, reports said.

Shirel Golan, the youngest of five siblings, took her life in her apartment on her 22nd birthday on Sunday.

Her family blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government for turning a blind eye to Hamas attack survivors.

"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," her brother, Eyal, was quoted as saying by Hebrew media, the Times of Israel reported.

"She said that she doesn't get any help from the state. She said that she only gets aid from the [Tribe of Nova Community Association]," he said.

"If the state had taken care of her, none of this would have happened," he added.

After the Hamas attack, she was also hospitalized twice, but was never recognized as a PTSD sufferer, her family said.

How She Escaped Hamas Attack

Shirel Golan and her partner, Adi, were among the thousands of people who managed to flee the music festival as Hamas attacked attendees on October 7, 2023.

According to reports, the couple initially made it to a vehicle and tried to drive out of the area, but abandoned the car once they thought they could not escape.

They then hid under a bush for hours until they were eventually found by a police officer.

While hiding, the pair reportedly narrowly avoided getting in another car whose occupants were all killed or kidnapped by Hamas.

Hamas members attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 44,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.

Israel believes that 63 hostages, including two children, are still alive, while 34 are confirmed dead but remain in Gaza.

For Hamas, which rules Gaza, the hostages are key bargaining chips in negotiations with Israel aiming to secure a truce and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

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