Man Kills Himself at Girlfriend's Grave Days After October 7 Massacre Victim's Anniversary

Bar Asraf, whose girlfriend was killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, died by suicide at her grave last Saturday. The 30-year-old was found by his sister with a gunshot wound to the chest at the cemetery in Elkana, in the West Bank.

His sister, Lehi, recounted finding her brother next to Liron Barda's grave. "Suddenly I see him lying next to Liron's grave. I told him, 'Get up, what are you doing again,' Then I realized he was covered in blood. I stepped on a gun next to him. I screamed. I couldn't function... I knew it was the end," she told Israeli outlet Walla.

Barda, who worked as a bar manager at the festival, had stayed behind to tend to the injured during the attack, despite pleas from friends and family to flee. Her father previously told Israel Hayom that Barda's refusal to leave was in character, stating, "This was Liron – I would have been surprised if she agreed to flee."

Asraf had reportedly been struggling with Barda's death for nearly three years. His mother described Barda as his "soulmate" and said his grief had consumed him. She noted that he had remained close to Barda's family, brought her mother flowers, and got a tattoo in her honor. Shortly before his death, Asraf told his mother he was very sad and that it was difficult for him without Barda.

Asraf's funeral was held on Sunday. Shiran Maor, chairman of the Lev Ma'af association, which supports Nova survivors and their families, expressed heartbreak over the tragedy and extended condolences to those who knew Asraf.

This incident follows other reported suicides among survivors and relatives of victims of the October 7 attacks. In April 2024, it was reported that 50 Nova survivors had taken their own lives in the six months following the massacre. Among other cases, Roei Shalev, 28, died by suicide in October of last year, two years after witnessing the murder of his girlfriend and best friend at the Nova festival. His final message read: "I'm truly sorry. I can't bear this pain any longer."

In October 2025, Yelena Giler, 56, the mother of Slava Giler, who was also murdered at the Nova music festival, died by suicide. Her son's brother stated that the October 7 attacks "completely broke her" and that she had been hospitalized frequently for psychological damage since her son's death.