Israel: The enduring grief of families following the October 7 attacks

Three years after the October 7 attacks, the personal toll of the Hamas-led massacre at the Nova Festival in southern Israel remains a profound source of grief for families. Bar Zohar, a 23-year-old who died during the attack, is remembered for her efforts to save others. Her mother, Kati Zohar, a Franco-Israeli resident, noted that Bar used her vehicle to help festival-goers escape and provided information to police that reportedly helped save approximately 2,500 people by locating attackers.

At the Nova Festival, 364 people were killed, contributing to a total of approximately 1,200 victims of the attacks. Kati Zohar described the ongoing difficulty of mourning amidst continuous news coverage of conflicts in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon. To find solace, the family moved to Sderot, near the site of the festival where a memorial has been established.