A year has passed since the terrible Sheva massacre in October in which nearly 1,200 Israelis lost their lives, the controversy surrounding the hostage deal continues, but there are also survivors who experienced the events of Black Sabbath who seem as if time has stood still for them since that morning.
On one of the mornings in September, a discussion was held on the state's intention to delete the lawsuit against the compensation for the Nova Party victims, Srugim interviewer Liran met several survivors, he asked their permission to be interviewed, most of them refused, it seems that the horrific experience they went through does not allow them to open up and recall what happened. A few minutes later I approached Roy Asraf who survived the massacre together with his wife, he accepted my request to be interviewed.
I ask him a little about the past year, dealing with the 'experience' of that Shabbat morning on October 7. "This year has been terribly difficult, basically I went back to work a month ago," he says and continues to point out the memories that accompany him, "all the difficulty is actually the nights, those difficult nights when the memories flood us again, our abductees are still there," says Roy.
"We've been stuck since October 7."
"For me, the 7th of October was stuck on that day, nothing progressed," he says painfully. As mentioned, Roy survived with his wife, they are raising two daughters in their home and he shares about their experience compared to what their parents experienced. "All the emotions we go through at home affects them, we hope we will be able to get back on track.
According to him, "what is actually happening in our home and in the country itself, we are not able to move forward in life as usual, we are simply stuck since October 7th and that is the current situation today, what is left for the State of Israel right now is to return the abductees."
Did you receive support throughout the year?
"We received some guidance at the beginning, after that there was a break, we hope that we will continue the treatments and we hope that with G-d's help it will be alright."
Flashbacks of terrorists every day
"I would like to take Roi back to that morning when he left the party venue with his wife ... It's that morning, every day anew, fast moving, a morning that won't be forgotten, the images of the terrorists who shot at us are still flashbacks every day, I hear noises, we get scared, it just doesn't come out of my head, it will take a long time."
When you hear that the political echelon is delaying a deal, on the other hand, the IDF is pushing for a deal, is the government serious about this?
Roy sighs and says only a few words that can illustrate the feelings of many, "Since October 7th I don't believe in the government or the country", he painfully concludes the interview.