Nova Festival Survivor and Widowed Father Returns Home After 400 Days in Recovery

After 400 days in intensive medical care, Nati Ganon, a survivor of the brutal Nova Festival attack, has finally been discharged from Ichilov Hospital. The moment, while filled with gratitude for his recovery, was bittersweet, as he returns home without his beloved wife, Shiran, who was tragically killed by Hamas terrorists. Ganon’s release marks the end of a harrowing period of surgeries and rehabilitation and the beginning of a new chapter as he steps back into his role as a father to his three children: Ilay, 15, Ori, 11, and Mai, 8.

The horrific attack took place on October 7th, when Hamas launched an assault on festival-goers. Ganon recalls the chaos as he and Shiran attempted to flee. Their vehicle became stuck, forcing them to abandon it. As they tried to escape in another car, both were shot by Hamas militants. Nati, hit in the leg, was immobilized, while Shiran ran forward. Despite his pleas for her to keep running, she was later reported missing, her body discovered a week later.

After Ganon was rescued, he was taken to Ichilov Hospital, where doctors determined he had also been shot in the back, narrowly avoiding paralysis. His journey to recovery involved months of intensive care, therapy, and enduring physical and emotional challenges. “I lay in a field for five hours, bleeding,” Ganon told reporters. The recovery process required immense mental strength, with Ganon admitting there were times he struggled to find the will to continue.

With the support of a compassionate medical team, Ganon gradually regained mobility in his injured leg, defying initial fears that amputation might be necessary. Today, he can walk unaided for short distances, a testament to both his resilience and the dedication of his caregivers. “The team has a huge heart,” he shared. “What I went through is not something ordinary.”

For Ganon, leaving the hospital is just the beginning. “My journey doesn’t end here,” he says. “My greatest victory is to return home to raise my children and, secondly, to return to my profession as a hairdresser.” His courage is emblematic of the strength within Israel’s communities, who continue to support one another in the wake of unimaginable loss.

Dr. Anna Sezhin, director of the rehabilitation center at Ichilov, praised Ganon’s determination, remarking, “Despite the tragedy and immense physical and mental pain, here he is, leaving on his own feet – with an eye to the future.”

Ganon’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, and of the courage of those who continue on in the face of great loss. Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter to support Israel’s resilient communities as they rebuild and look toward the future.