Mum's pride as hero son of Nova hell remembered

HIS courageous actions came to mark the spirit of hundreds of brave Israelis who faced the horror of sudden slaughter on October 7.

- Marco Giannangeli

Now the mother of Aner Shapiro has paid tribute to the heroism of her son, who tossed back seven hand grenades from the shelter where he and 20 others had taken refuge from Hamas gunmen.

“Survivors told us what he did. He died just like he lived – putting others first,” said British-born Shira Shapiro from her home in Jerusalem.

More than 600 young revellers had gathered near the Gaza border for the Nova music festival. A night of happiness and dance would turn to tragedy when the morning sky filled with rockets. The events of that day are told in a new documentary, Surviving October 7th, which has gathered accounts from those who were there.