Man Kills Himself At Grave Of Girlfriend Murdered By Hamas

Bar Asraf, a 30-year-old resident of the Israeli Sha’arei Tikva settlement, was found dead after he shot himself at the grave of his girlfriend Liron Barda, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.

Barda, who worked as the bar manager at the festival, stayed and gave first aid to the wounded during Hamas’ attack despite pleas from friends and family for her to run. Asraf’s sister Lihi said the family was celebrating her other brother’s wedding just before Asraf was found dead.

“We were at my brothers wedding. He apparently started to feel lonely. You could not tell. He was always happy and laughing,” Lihi said. “At the groom’s celebration there was dancing and a Shabbat reception with a singer. It was magical. We were at the peak of the family’s life.”

“He was actually coping well but he had a moment of madness being alone while seeing everyone with their families,” Lihi added. “People need to know what Nova did to people. On that day [October 7] he started driving toward Re’im to save her until he realized there was no one left to save and they turned him back halfway.”

After Asraf left the gathering, Lihi thought he had gone to be alone to think as he often did. After two hours passed, the family began to search, first checking a few places before going to Barda’s grave. “He loved talking there and being with her,” Lihi said.

“I walked over and suddenly I saw him lying next to Liron’s grave. I said to him, ‘Bar, get up, what are you doing again,’ and then I realized he was covered in blood. I stepped on a gun beside him. I screamed. I could not function. My father started CPR. I knew it was the end. He was cold. … He died in the place he wanted to be most with the woman he wanted to be with most.”

Their mother, Bracha, called her son “a special boy” and described Barda and Asraf as “soulmates since childhood.”

“There were three nerve-wracking days when we did not know what happened to her at Nova. He stayed at my house and did not leave my side from morning until evening sitting with her entire family,” Bracha said. “He stayed in touch with them ever since, brought her mother bouquets of flowers and got a tattoo of her. A little while ago I saw him looking sad and asked what was wrong. He said, ‘Mom, I am sad. It is hard for me without Liron. I miss her. There is no one who can replace her, no one to cheer me up.’ We felt he was struggling deeply without her.”

Shiran Maor of SafeHeart, which supports survivors of the October 7 festivals and their families, said, “Our hearts break over this devastating tragedy. We share in the family’s deep grief and stand with everyone who knew and loved him.”

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 by dialing 988.