Roei Shalev, a 28-year-old Israeli survivor of the devastating Nova music festival massacre that occurred on October 7, 2023, tragically ended his own life recently. His demise came just days after the second anniversary of the horrifying event. Shalev’s lifeless body was found in a burning vehicle near a highway exit close to Netanya on the previous Friday evening.
Security footage from a nearby gas station captured Shalev filling a fuel canister shortly before his body was found. Shalev had been romantically involved with Mapal Adam, who tragically lost her life during the terrorist attack at the Nova music festival.
Prior to his tragic demise, Shalev shared a poignant farewell message on his Instagram account. He spoke of the unbearable pain and loss he had been grappling with since the massacre that took his girlfriend’s life. In his message, he apologized and likened his internal suffering to a burning sensation that he could no longer bear.
On the tragic day of October 7, 2023, Shalev and his girlfriend, 25-year-old Mapal Adam, were at the Nova festival near Re’im when the Hamas attack took place. The couple sought shelter under a truck, feigning death for hours amidst the bloody chaos. However, their hiding place was discovered by a terrorist who fatally shot Adam at close range.
Shalev was also shot twice while attempting to protect his girlfriend but managed to survive. In a 2024 interview on Youtube, Shalev recounted the terrifying experience. He shared that they had whispered “I love you” to each other and closed their eyes to feign death just moments before a Hamas militant approached and shot them.
Adding to the tragedy, Shalev’s mother also took her own life just days after the massacre, setting her car on fire, as reported by Israeli public broadcaster KAN.
The Nova Tribe Community organization, which represents survivors and families of the victims of the music festival massacre, expressed their sorrow over Shalev’s passing. The group described Shalev as the backbone of the community and stated that his death was a devastating blow to them.