Grief Multiplies: Hamas Attack Survivor's Husband Diagnosed With Cancer
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Sivan Zohar-Elkobi, a survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack that killed her brother's family, is now dealing with her husband Eli's colon cancer diagnosis. The family, who lost their business and received little government support, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover medical and living expenses.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A survivor of the October 7th massacre faces her husband's cancer diagnosis.
- Her brother's entire family was murdered in the October 7th attack.
- The family lost their business and struggles with lack of government support.
- A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to aid the couple and their children.
- The diagnosis has exacerbated the family's existing post-traumatic stress.
Sivan Zohar-Elkobi, who survived the October 7th Hamas attack with her family in Ra'anana, is now facing a new tragedy as her husband, Eli, 46, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. The diagnosis has brought back the profound trauma of the massacre, which claimed the lives of her brother Yaniv the Niece, his wife Yasmine, their children Kashat, Tchelet, and Ariel, and Yasmine's father, Chaim Livneh, all residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz. The family's ordeal began on October 7th when Yaniv's family was attacked in their home. Their youngest son, Ariel, was saved when his mother, Yasmine, called the kibbutz security coordinator, Ilan Fiorentino, who placed Ariel in his own safe room before being killed himself. It took ten days to identify the bodies of the five family members. Ariel was subsequently adopted by Sivan's sister, Ayelet Zohar-Cohen, and her husband, becoming the fourth child in their family.
The emotional and financial toll of the past three years has been immense. Sivan, who co-owned a successful event and gift business with her husband Eli, described the diagnosis as feeling the "ground collapse again." She recounted the shock of receiving the phone call confirming the cancer, stating, "I felt the blood draining out of me." The couple, previously thriving entrepreneurs serving major corporations, lost their business in the aftermath of October 7th, struggling for income and facing a lack of government support for victims' families. Sivan expressed the feeling of being "invisible" and overlooked by the system, contrasting their situation with the support offered to families of hostages.
With Eli undergoing intensive treatment and unable to work, and Sivan needing to care for him and their two young children, the family has launched a crowdfunding campaign. Ayelet Zohar-Cohen initiated the campaign, aiming to raise 1.5 million shekels to cover their expenses for the next year. She emphasized that the family, who had always been self-sufficient and giving, now requires public assistance due to the overwhelming chain of tragedies. "The state has not extended any protection to us," Ayelet stated, highlighting that despite her efforts to reach out to officials, no substantial help has materialized. The family is described as being in severe post-traumatic stress, with even small events triggering their pain, yet they are striving to create a semblance of normalcy for their children.
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