Gafen Plains Residents Still Haunted by October 7 Massacre
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Gafen Plains residents remain traumatized three years after the October 7 massacre.
- The site has not been evacuated, unlike other massacre locations.
- 33 residents were killed, and survivors suffer from psychological wounds.
- Residents report inadequate support and lasting effects of the trauma.
Three years after the October 7th massacre, the Gafen Plains (Mishor HaGafen) is the only massacre site that has not been evacuated, and the tragedy remains palpable. Of the 33 residents murdered that day, survivors are left with deep psychological wounds and inadequate support. "Some people are living on pills, some on alcohol. Everyone who was here that day was scarred," one resident stated.
The lingering smell of the massacre, described as bitter, rotten, and smoky, still permeates Esther Gabai's home. In the first year, she desperately tried to eliminate it by cleaning, searching for its source in vain. Despite her efforts, the smell persisted, a constant reminder of the trauma, preventing her from feeling at home.