Aner Shapira
ענר אליקים שפירא
Born(2001-03-12)March 12, 2001
Jerusalem, Israel
DiedOctober 7, 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 22)
Re'im, Israel

Aner Elyakim Shapira (Hebrew: ענר אליקים שפירא‎; March 12, 2001 – October 7, 2023) was an Israeli who was killed during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. During the Re'im music festival massacre, Shapira threw 7 explosive grenades originally thrown by Hamas militants into the shelter he and others were taking cover in back toward the militants, ultimately saving the lives of at least 7 people who survived the massacre. For his actions, he was called a "hero" by Israeli and international media.[1][2]

Personal

Shapiro was an alum of the Himmelfarb religious high school for boys in Jerusalem.[3] At the time of his death, he was serving in an elite unit of the Nahal Brigade in the Israel Defense Forces.[2]

Shapira's grandfather, Hanina Ben-Menahem, was a professor of Jewish law at the Hebrew University.[4] His grandmother, Yemima Ben-Menachem, was also a professor.[4] His great-grandfather was Haim-Moshe Shapira, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence of Israel.[2]

Events of October 7, 2023

On October 7, 2023, Shapira went to the Nova music festival in Reim with his friend Hersh Goldberg-Polin. When Hamas militants attacked the event, Shapira and his friends ran into a public missile shelter in Re'im at approximately 7:55am, hiding with about two dozen other people. Shapira reportedly attempted to inspire hope for those in the shelter by telling them that the Israeli military would arrive soon. Shapira stood near the exit, telling those next to him that if the shelter was attacked by militants or grenades, he would throw the grenades back.[1]

For several minutes, Hamas militants shot bullets and fired rocket-propelled grenades into the shelter to kill those hiding, with Shapira ejecting the grenades from the shelter seven times; the eighth exploded in his hands, killing him.[2][1][5] On November 14, a video of this act appeared online.[6][7] Shapira's friend Goldberg-Polin, who also reportedly wad throwing back grenades, lost his hand from a grenade explosion, but was able to tie a tourniquet around his arm and was subsequently taken hostage. At least 7 people who were hiding in the shelter with Shapira ultiately survived the attack.[1][2]

Shapira's parents, Shira and Moshe, were unaware of what happened to their son until survivors of the event began calling them to tell them about their son's actions. One of the survivors hiding alongside Shapiro later noted "Aner Shapira... saved our lives, and he deserves a medal of honor for being the angel who kept us safe".[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gavin, Christopher (November 14, 2023). "Video Shows Hero Israeli Soldier Save Festival-Goers from Hamas Attack by Throwing Back 7 Grenades Before Being Killed by 8th". The Messenger. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Staff Sgt. Aner Elyakim Shapiro, 22: Unarmed, he fended off 7 grenades". Times of Israel. October 18, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. ↑ Cashman, Greer (December 2, 2023). "Grapevine: Fallen alumni". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Colleagues Mourning Deaths in War Against Hamas". H-Net. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "История 22-летнего израильтянина, который спас других от ХАМАСа ценой собственной жизни". Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Невероятный героизм: Анер Шапира отбивался от террористов их собственными гранатами (видео)". November 14, 2023. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Видео запечатлело героизм Анера Шапиро". www.7kanal.co.il. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
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