Adar Eylon’s sister, Shira, disappeared after the Nova music pageant in southern Israel was attacked by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Her household believed she was taken hostage. However on Oct. 11, the Israeli military knowledgeable them that she had been killed. In an interview with TIME’s Mathias Hammer, Eylon, 29, describes the ordeal:
Shira, my little sister, went to the Supernova music pageant. On Saturday round 7 a.m., she referred to as my dad telling him there was bombing; they’re sending rockets over us. Thirty minutes after she texted him, she heard some gunshots, and since then she didnt decide up the cellphone. We referred to as and we referred to as till the cellphone was off.
I managed to seek out some mates of hers to inform me what occurred. They informed me they tried to name the police, ship their location, however no one got here to rescue them as a result of the terrorists have been surrounding your complete space and taking pictures vehicles. So a few of them hid within the forest for like two days. They mentioned it was just like the Holocaust, like operating away from the Nazis.
Learn Extra: The Households of Israelis Held Hostage by Hamas Communicate Out.
Considered one of our mates hid underneath an deserted tank, which had a soldier inside who was already lifeless. One other good friend, some terrorists shot her leg and so they thought she was lifeless. She pretended to be lifeless for 5 hours till somebody got here and picked her up. And one other good friend informed me that after they began taking pictures, and everyone was operating away, he noticed my sister and her finest good friend and behind them a terrorist with a shotgun. He ran sooner than them, so misplaced them, however he may hear them screaming. However he could not inform me what occurred.
We situated her cellphone in Gaza so we figured she could also be kidnapped. We additionally tried to name on daily basis to the hospital and to the police. She was not within the hospital or in any of the lists of the individuals who have survived. So we have been fairly positive she had been kidnapped. It was utterly chaotic; the nation did not give us any info. They only informed me, you may go search for her within the hospital to see in case you can acknowledge somebody.
Learn Extra: A Photographer Captures Demise, Destruction, and Grief in Gaza.
The military knocked on our door two days in the past, telling us that they discovered Shiras physique. They acknowledged her by a DNA take a look at. Her physique had been mendacity within the forest for 5 days. They didnt carry them to the hospital as a result of they have been all full. They put them in a shelter close to the social gathering, and so they mentioned there have been too many our bodies so it took them virtually per week to acknowledge her. It took them one other day to carry her right here so we may bury her. So she was lifeless for six days earlier than we may bury her. Even after they got here to inform us that she died, they didnt inform us how or when.
Shira was 23. She simply got here again from a visit in India. She studied yoga over there. And he or she was supposed to begin college two days in the past. She was presupposed to do a psychology diploma. She was very mild, very peaceable, non-violent, very devoted. She was vegan and she or he would volunteer at an animal shelter. And he or she simply began life, you already know? She was simply going to this social gathering to have a good time life. The individuals who have been there have been younger adults. It was form of like Woodstock, the place everyone’s into artwork and peace and love. That they had nothing to do with this battle. And I simply do not perceive what sort of monster can come and assault civilians. They didnt come to assault troopers, or a military base. They went to a celebration.
As informed to Mathias Hammer