Surviving Terror: A Mother’s Harrowing Escape from the October 7 Massacre
On that fateful day, I never imagined I’d become the face of survival in one of Israel’s darkest hours. But here I am, the “lady in red,” sharing my story of terror, resilience, and hope.
The Party That Turned to Panic
It was supposed to be just another night at the Nova Festival. We arrived around 3 AM, ready to dance until dawn. But something felt off. The air was unusually chilly, and an eerie sense of unease crept over me. Little did I know, this gut feeling would save my life. At 7:29 AM, everything changed. The first siren blared through my phone, warning of incoming rockets. Chaos erupted as partygoers scrambled to find their cars and escape. But escape wasn’t going to be easy.
The Road to Hell
We thought we were safe once we reached our car. How wrong we were. As we inched along the single road, cars suddenly stopped. I rolled down my window to ask what was happening. The response chilled me to the bone: “Terrorists! Right there!”Before my eyes, a man tried to flee from the car in front of us. They gunned him down without mercy. Savannah trucks filled with men in partial military uniforms appeared out of nowhere. We were trapped, sitting ducks in a sea of terror.
Running for Our Lives
When a policeman screamed at us to run for the fields, we knew staying put meant certain death. I bolted from the car, Matan close behind. I ducked behind the first tree I saw, praying for a miracle. That miracle came in the form of a stranger’s car. As I jumped in, I saw Matan running towards us, screaming my name. But the door slammed shut, leaving him behind. At that moment, I thought I’d never see him – or my daughter Romy – again.
The Longest 20 Minutes
Crammed into a tiny Kia Picanto with seven others, we sped away from the massacre. But the nightmare was far from over. Terrorists in white vans pursued us, shooting indiscriminately. For 20 agonizing minutes, we zigzagged through a hail of bullets, narrowly escaping death at every turn.
The Aftermath: A Nation in Mourning
When we finally reached safety, the true scale of the horror became clear. This wasn’t just an attack on a music festival – it was an assault on our entire nation. For days, the shooting continued. No one was left untouched by the tragedy. Everyone in Israel lost someone that day.
Finding Hope in the Darkness
Now, my face has become a symbol of survival, plastered across news outlets worldwide. It’s a heavy burden to bear, but one that gives me purpose. I survived when so many didn’t. I made it back to my precious Romy when others will never hug their children again.
The pain is still raw. The trauma lingers. But I refuse to let terror win. For Romy, for Matan, for all those we lost – we must keep living, keep loving, and keep hoping for a better tomorrow. This is more than just my story. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s incredible resilience in the face of unimaginable horror. And it’s a reminder that even in our darkest hours, hope can prevail.
On that fateful day, I never imagined I’d become the face of survival in one of Israel’s darkest hours. But here I am, the “lady in red,” sharing my story of terror, resilience, and hope.
