Nova Festival Survivor Dies by Suicide Two Years After Hamas Massacre
Two years after surviving the horrific Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack at the Supernova music festival, Israeli survivor Roei Shalev has died by suicide.
Shalev was wounded in the massacre that killed his girlfriend, Mapal Adam, and his best friend, Hilly Solomon. He had been shot twice while trying to protect Adam from gunfire. His death marks another painful reminder of the lasting trauma endured by survivors of that day.
Community leaders from the Nova Tribe Association, which supports victims and bereaved families, described Shalev as a source of strength—a compassionate leader who helped others navigate their pain even while carrying his own. “His loss leaves a deep wound in our hearts,” the group said, calling him a pillar of the community.
Tragically, Shalev’s mother, Raffaela, also took her own life just a week after the massacre.
Israel’s Health Ministry released a statement urging the public to be attentive to signs of mental distress, noting that anniversaries of national trauma can reopen emotional wounds. Officials encouraged anyone struggling to seek help and for communities to show care and vigilance toward those affected.
More than 340 people were murdered at the Nova festival that day, with dozens taken hostage into Gaza. Across Israel, roughly 1,200 civilians were killed and over 250 kidnapped, sparking a two-year war against Hamas in Gaza that continues to shape the nation’s collective grief.
Witkoff and Kushner Visit Gaza Ahead of Hostage Release
American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited the Gaza Strip over the weekend with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, as both nations prepare for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The delegation, which also included U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, toured military sites and reviewed operations related to the hostage-return process. The visit underscored the close cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem, especially as the U.S.-brokered Gaza agreement enters its final stages.
Israeli officials confirmed that the IDF has completed the first phase of a partial withdrawal to designated security lines in the Strip, a step agreed upon as part of the ceasefire deal. The plan aims to secure the release of 48 hostages within 72 hours and set conditions for longer-term stabilization.
The ceasefire agreement follows two years of fighting sparked by the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and left more than 250 abducted. Israel’s military campaign sought to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure, return the captives, and ensure the group could never again threaten the country.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the next phase will focus on dismantling Hamas’s underground tunnel network—an effort to permanently demilitarize the enclave. The IDF, working with an international coalition led by the U.S., will oversee the destruction of the tunnels as part of Gaza’s reconstruction and security process.
Addressing troops during a redeployment ceremony, IDF commanders praised soldiers for their determination and unity, calling this period “a historic moment of courage, mission, and faith.”
Giant U.S. Flag Raised in Judea and Samaria Ahead of Trump Visit
A massive American flag—believed to be the largest ever flown in Israel—was raised this weekend in the Binyamin region as a gesture of gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for brokering the recent hostage-release deal.
The flag, measuring an impressive 26 by 36 feet, was hoisted high above the hills of Judea and Samaria, visible from miles away. Regional leaders said it represents not only appreciation for Trump’s diplomatic achievement but also the deep and enduring friendship between Israel and the United States.
“President Trump has once again shown his steadfast commitment to the people of Israel,” said Binyamin Regional Governor Yisrael Ganz, who oversaw the initiative. “Raising this flag is our way of saying thank you—for helping bring our hostages home and for standing with us in our struggle for peace and security.”
Trump is scheduled to visit Israel this week, where he will address the Knesset following the anticipated completion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The deal, which began on Friday, offers a long-awaited pause in the two-year-long war that began with the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023—the deadliest day in Israel’s history.
