Bereaved Partners Share Pain of Losing Loved Ones in October 7 Attacks

Three women are sharing their experiences of grief and loss three years after the October 7th attacks, detailing the unique challenges faced by partners of fallen soldiers who were not legally recognized as family. Osnat Leibovitch, whose partner Sergeant Berhanu Cassia fell in operational activity in Khan Yunis in December 2023, described her pain as still feeling like "yesterday," stating, "It's just three years that my heart has been broken." She noted that the lack of formal family status often leads to less societal recognition and validation of her grief.

Amit Shostak spoke about the enduring presence of her deceased partner, Sergeant Elad Sasson, saying, "When I close my eyes at night, I see his face and hear his laugh." She emphasized that he was not an "ex-partner" because they never separated, but rather he was "taken from me." Shostak highlighted the loss of not just a partner and best friend, but also of a shared future, dreams, and plans.

Eliora Rosenfeld shared a poignant memory of her partner, Sergeant Hillel Samuel Saadoun, begging him not to return from Gaza. He refused, stating he would not leave his team. Rosenfeld echoed the sentiment of ongoing pain, noting that while life can continue and even include happiness and new relationships, the loss remains deeply present.

These three women are among the 412 partners of fallen soldiers and security personnel who have joined the ranks of the bereaved since October 7th. They are receiving support from the "Left Behind a Partner" (Hotir Acharei Chaver.a) association, which provides personalized therapeutic care and a supportive community. This organization offers a space where they don't need to explain why life can continue alongside love, longing, and loss, with Rosenfeld stating, "There is a lot of loneliness in being a bereaved partner, and in this place the association helps me a lot."