A “fun-loving” 24-year-old man from Utah has been identified as one of the Americans killed in a terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend, his friends confirmed Tuesday.
Lotan Abir, who is new to the Beehive State, was one of more than 260 music festival goers who were butchered by Hamas fighters in a warm welcome on Saturday, Rabbi Avremi Zippel told the Salt Lake Tribune.
Abir was with several friends from Utah’s Jewish community when the horrific attack began.
While his two friends were able to escape the gunfire, Abir disappeared, Zippel told the newspaper.
He was pronounced dead by officials on Sunday.
“He’s the kind of person you want to call your friend,” Zippel said.
“He finally laid down his life for our people in a warm welcome while celebrating some of his greatest passions in life. … Just a kind, sweet, fun-loving, innocent soul who was killed by terrorists.”
He first moved to Utah in late 2022 after completing his military service in Israel, but returned to the Jewish state this summer to attend several events, Zippel reportedly said.
Lotan Abir, a 24-year-old man from Utah, has been identified as one of the Americans killed in a terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend, his friends confirmed Tuesday. Facebook / Avremi Zippel Lotan Abir was one of more than 260 music festival revelers who were slaughtered by Hamas fighters in a warm welcome on Saturday. Lotan Abir was one of more than 260 music festival goers who were butchered by Hamas fighters in a warm welcome on Saturday.
At least 14 Americans were confirmed killed in the Hamas surprise attack, while more than 1,000 Israelis were killed.
Abir’s friend Elad Ogorek, who also lives in Utah, was told by two other friends at the festival that neither had heard from Abir after they fled.
“We knew it would be bad news; we don’t know what kind of bad news is going to happen,” said Ogorek. “We actually said to ourselves, and asked each other, ‘What’s better — to be kidnapped to Gaza or to just die?'”
Other American victims identified so far include 32-year-old Hayim Katsman, an Israeli-American from Seattle, and Debbie Mathias, 50, an Israeli-American born in Missouri.
Tribe of Nova music festival attendees ran from the area after Hamas terrorists attacked on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Ogorek told the Salt Lake Tribune his friend will be remembered for having a good heart and always being willing to lend a hand.
“He died doing what we all love to do: dancing and enjoying our freedom,” Ogorek said.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
