Aner Elyakim Shapira was an Israeli who was killed during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. During the Re'im music festival massacre, while taking cover in a shelter, Shapira threw back at Hamas militants 7 explosive grenades they had originally thrown into the shelter. Ultimately, he saved the lives of at least 7 people who survived the massacre. For his actions, he was called a "hero" by Israeli and international media.
Mural painting of Aner Shapira
The shelter in which Shapira threw grenades out and was killed in during the 7 October attack - February 2024
Re'im music festival massacre
On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As part of the attack, 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded by Hamas at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im. At least 40 hostages were also taken. This mass killing had the largest number of casualties out of a number of massacres targeting Israeli civilians in villages adjacent to the Gaza Strip, that occurred as part of the 7 October attack, alongside those at the moshavim of Netiv HaAsara, Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz and Holit.
Militant capturing a man during the massacre
A Hamas militant pointing his gun into a shelter where attendees of the festival were hiding
Abandoned and damaged cars parked at the festival (12 October)
Eran Litman, the father of Oriya Litman who was murdered by Hamas at Re'im music festival massacre, speaks at event in Haifa