A family marked by pain. Relatives of Shirel Golan, a 22-year-old Israeli who was present during the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas attack on Israel, announced that she had committed suicide on Sunday, October 20.
The announcement was made during a fundraiser held simultaneously in Tel Aviv, Israel, and London, United Kingdom, to provide psychological help to victims of the October 7 attacks, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The young woman’s family claims that Shirel Golan suffered from post-traumatic stress since she witnessed the massacre that left more than 370 dead and accuses the Israeli government of not having supported her enough.
“Like a dying flower” from October 7
“It happened after a year of ups and downs. Since October 7 (editor’s note 2023), Shirel is like a dying flower,” her father Meir Golan confesses to the Israeli media Channel 12.
Marked by the scenes of terror she witnessed at the Nova festival, the young woman decided to take a trip to India to clear her mind. “After a few days in India, he suddenly called me. He was having mental problems and said, ‘Dad, save me,'” says the father of five.
Back in Israel, Shirel Golan shows signs that lead her father to believe she suffers from depression. “She didn’t want anything, she had completely lost the joy of living,” he confesses.
“If the State had taken care of her, this would never have happened”
The pain was so intense that, according to his father, he tried to end his life for the first time last September by taking a large amount of medication. “We were afraid it would happen again,” breathes Meir Golan.
The young woman suffered from dissociation disorders and fear of abandonment. She had to be hospitalized twice, according to the Times of Israel.
Shirel Golan’s family assures that the young woman only received support from volunteers from the Tribe of Nova community association. Not enough for those close to him. “If the State had taken care of her, this would never have happened,” denounces her brother Eyal.
“The Israeli State killed my sister twice, once psychologically on October 7 (2023) and a second time today (Sunday), on her 22nd birthday, physically,” accuses Eyal Golan.
“So that others do not lose their loved ones”
Shirel Golan’s brother calls on government to ‘wake up’ before more suicides occur among 7/11 survivors.
“I lost my sister, but I want to make my voice heard so that others don’t lose their loved ones,” explains Eyal Golan.
The Israeli was present at the Nova festival on October 7, 2023 with her boyfriend Adi, according to the Israeli press. The couple first managed to get into a car, but were unable to flee the scene. Therefore, they hid behind a bush before being rescued by a police officer.
Source: BFM TV
