330 days after the horrific terror attack at the Nova music festival, the IDF has announced the deaths of six hostages taken from the site of the massacre.
Eden Yerushalmi, a 24-year-old bartender, was working at the Nova festival when she was abducted. The heartbreaking call between Yerushalmi and an emergency operator before she was taken captive has surfaced online. In the call, Yerushalmi says, “I need you to help me. I’m hiding in the bushes…they’re going to kill me. I’m dead.”
Carmel Gat, 39, was visiting her family in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 when Hamas terrorists entered their home, killing her mother and capturing Gat, her brother, her sister-in-law, and her niece. While her brother and niece escaped from their captors, Gat and her sister-in-law remained in captivity. Her sister-in-law, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released in a hostage deal on November 29. Carmel was an occupational therapist and intended to begin her studies for a master’s degree in October.
Almog Sarusi, a 26-year-old light and sound technician, was captured from the Nova festival on October 7, which he attended with his girlfriend, Shachar. Sarusi stayed at Shachar’s side, and when she unfortunately passed away, he was abducted into Gaza.
Alex Lobanov, 32, was working as a bar manager at the Nova festival when he was captured along with his father. His wife, Michal, gave birth to their second child on May 1, with Lobanov in Gaza, unable to meet his son.
Uri Danino, a 25-year-old from Givat Ze’ev, was taken captive from the Nova festival as well, which he attended with his friends. When the attack started, Danino and his friends left in separate vehicles. Danino turned around and went back to save three of his friends, Maya and Itai Regev and Omer Shem-Tov, who were taken into Gaza with him. Danino was engaged to be married this year.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, attended the festival with his close friend Aner Shapira. When the attack began, Goldberg-Polin and Shapira ran into a nearby bomb shelter while terrorists threw grenades. Shapira caught the grenades and threw them out of the shelter, but unfortunately did not survive. After the blast, Goldberg-Polin was taken into Gaza with one arm mutilated by a grenade. Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, have been advocating endlessly for the safe return of their son, speaking at conferences, rallies, and programs across the globe.
May their neshamot have an aliyah. Hashem yakum damam.
