October 7th Survivor Struggles to Rebuild Life After Wife's Murder
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Hamid Abu Arar, a survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack, is struggling to rebuild his life after his pregnant wife, Fatima, was murdered and he and their infant son, Elias, were injured. He saved an IDF unit from an ambush and now raises their nine children alone, facing immense psychological challenges. Despite receiving permanent residency, Abu Arar remains deeply affected, frequently visiting the site of the attack and finding solace only in his children's education.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hamid Abu Arar survived the October 7th massacre, losing his pregnant wife Fatima and being injured with his infant son Elias.
- Abu Arar saved an IDF unit from a Hamas ambush by warning them of the trap.
- He is now raising their nine children alone, who are deeply traumatized by their mother's death.
- Abu Arar struggles to move on, frequently visiting the site of the attack and finding it difficult to rebuild his life.
- He received permanent residency and an Israeli ID for his actions, expressing gratitude to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel.
Hamid Abu Arar, a survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack, shared his ongoing trauma and struggle to rebuild his life nearly three years after the massacre. He described how the day of October 7th, 2023, never ended for him, as his nine children constantly remind him of their mother, Fatima, who was murdered during the attack while pregnant. Abu Arar recounted how he was on his way to work with Fatima and their infant son, Elias, when Hamas terrorists opened fire, killing Fatima and injuring him and Elias. He hid with his baby for hours, overhearing the terrorists' plans.
During the attack, Abu Arar, despite being wounded, emerged from hiding to warn an approaching IDF unit about a planned ambush, saving their lives. He was shot at by the soldiers, sustaining shrapnel wounds, before they realized he was Israeli and stopped firing. He and Elias were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center, marking the beginning of his new battle to raise their nine children alone.
Abu Arar detailed the profound psychological impact on his children, particularly Elias, who was only six months old at the time and now receives psychiatric care. He shared a recent incident where Elias, seemingly reenacting the trauma, spoke of his mother being killed. The family's dreams, including opening a cosmetics salon for Fatima, were shattered by the attack.
Despite efforts to move forward, including receiving permanent residency and an Israeli ID card, Abu Arar finds it impossible to escape the memories. He frequently visits the Gaza border region, feeling a deep connection to the place where his former life ended. He struggles with advice to remarry and rebuild his life, stating that while others can talk, he lives the reality of his loss daily. He finds solace only in his children's education, fulfilling a promise made with Fatima.
Abu Arar, who was born in Gaza and left in 1995, expressed his disillusionment with the current state of Gaza, comparing it to Iran. He distinguished between Hamas and the general population of Gaza. He also criticized Israeli policies, such as home demolitions, for fostering hatred, while expressing gratitude to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel for his assistance in obtaining permanent residency.
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