A young Vancouver man, Ben Mizrachi, was killed during a Hamas attack on a music festival in southern Israel. Mizrachi, 24, is the second Canadian confirmed to have been killed in the recent wave of violence in the region.
Tragic Confirmation
Ben Mizrachi had initially been reported missing after the unexpected attacks on the music festival. Vancouver’s King David High School, Mizrachi’s alma mater, shared the distressing news of his death in a social media update on Tuesday.
“King David alumnus Ben Mizrachi, 24, beloved son of Dikla and Etsik Mizrachi, brother of Neeve, Maya and Dan, has been confirmed among those murdered by Hamas terrorists in Southern Israel this past Saturday. He was gunned down while attending a music festival,” the school posted on Facebook.
Remembering Ben
Those who knew Ben remember him fondly. King David High School describes Mizrachi as larger than life, with a personality that matched his size. The school post reminisced, “He was full of joy, had a smile for everyone, and was always there to help. Ben was a friend to everyone.” They further recounted a touching memory from a Grade 8 trip where Mizrachi, donning a Vancouver Canucks jersey, recited liturgical prayers at sunrise atop an ancient fortification in Israel.
A Community in Mourning
Vancouver-Granville MP Taleeb Noormohamed also expressed his sorrow over the tragic event. “A wonderful young man from my riding – Ben Mizrachi – was found amongst those murdered by Hamas terrorists. My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his family, his friends, loved ones, and the community,” Noormohamed posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Officials from King David High School announced a funeral for Mizrachi will take place at Kvutzat Yavne, a kibbutz in Israel, on Wednesday.
Worst Civilian Massacre
The horrifying attack on the open-air Tribe of Nova music festival is believed to be the most catastrophic civilian massacre in Israeli history. Over 260 people were killed when dozens of Hamas militants infiltrated Israel’s fortified separation fence from Gaza and targeted approximately 3,500 young Israelis attending the festival celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
The Israeli military reports indicate that more than 900 people have died in Israel since Saturday’s infiltration by Hamas. Additionally, retaliatory attacks by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank have claimed the lives of 765 individuals, according to authorities in those regions.
Canadian Casualties
Mizrachi is the second confirmed Canadian casualty in this conflict. Previously, a Montreal man, Alexandre Look, was reported to have been killed in a similar attack. His father, Alain Haim Look, described Alexandre’s heroics during the attack, stating he died while trying to protect others.
