A year ago, the life of Li-Tal Maya It was full of projects. At 27, the young Israeli worked in a travel agency and dreamed of continuing to study the languages, including Spanish, that she had learned during her travels across Latin America. October 7, 2023was only three kilometers from the festival Supernovaenjoying an outdoor party with other community leaders from mid-burnsthe Israeli version of the famous burning man. They had come to “get to know each other” and “see the field”. What should have been a day of coexistence and fun turned into a massacre, in which 1,200 people were murdered by Hamas terrorists, in one of the cruelest days Israel has seen since 1945.
These ten hours spent waiting for death transformed his life. Traveling is no longer for pleasure, he has trouble sleeping and cannot hear the sound of fireworks, one of his favorites, because it reminds him of missiles. Since then, he has not worked either.
She decides to return to the scene of the events with her group, even if a friend who died while trying to flee the terrorists is missing..
The young woman attends the podcast by telephone In the savannah when a year passes by a day that you would like to erase from your memory forever.
How do you feel today, one year after the massacre?
Good morning. I survive. Let’s put it like that.
Where were you on October 7, 2023?
It was three kilometers from the Supernova. In another community event called Burning Man, here is Midburn, a festival of art and creativity in the desert. There were around 120 people. We, the leaders, had arrived to see the ground, get to know the place a little and also to get to know each other.
“I saw the first missiles and three terrorists coming from the sky. I also heard the automatic weapons. We didn’t know what to do”
When do we start to notice the presence of terrorists?
I was awake all night. I saw everything from the first moment. I saw the first missiles and I saw the terrorists coming from the sky. I don’t know how to say it in Spanish. There were three. I was the first person in my group to also hear automatic weapons. Then everyone woke up to the sound of boom! We didn’t know what to do. Because in reality, when there are missiles in Israel, the orders are that you must not leave the place where you are. You must stay and protect your head. You have to lie down on the ground. We didn’t really have a lot of information. So we decided to stay there. Two people in the group decided they didn’t want to stay and that’s why I lost one of my nine friends.
Was your friend killed because she was trying to run away?
Yes, imagine. She was the only one moving. Other friends were shot, but thank God they are still with us.
How many hours did it take before they came to rescue you? How long has it been?
¡Phew! I spent ten hours in southern Israel listening to all the missiles, all the weapons. These are sounds I can never forget. I can’t get the sound of guns out of my ears or out of my mind. We stayed there in the open ground for about four hours. Then something happened, three terrorist cars tried to enter our territory. Then we realized that the situation was more serious than we thought. After half an hour, we saw thousands of people from the Supernova festival walking towards us. So the key was Patish…
What is Patish?
It is the city, the village located south of the desert. A cooperative agricultural community. They saved many people from Supernova. 15 young people from Supernova; They were with them and we were the image of what is happening in Israel. Because in reality, until they arrived, we didn’t know the seriousness of the situation. Then we moved to the houses on this farm. We stayed there until 4:30 p.m.
Were you able to call your family to reassure them, to tell them that you were alive?
Most of the day. I talked to them every ten, fifteen minutes until my body decided it was too much. I passed out for four hours. They treated me without any possibility of calling the doctor or calling anyone because no one could have come and done anything.
You told me you were going to see your friends and those who took care of you a year later…
Yes, we are on the same farm today. I never came back until today. I couldn’t go back. This road is going to be very long. I spent 7 months outside Israel. I fled to South America because I could no longer stand the war. I have been post-traumatic since October 7. Yes, I thought I might move to another country. But I really discovered that it was just an escape. I know I have to be here.
Lital-Maya in the desert. Loaned
How has your life changed this year? Before we started the interview, you told me that you could no longer sleep well. Do you have sleep problems?
Now I have nightmares. Six months ago, it was every day. I take the medicine the doctor gives me
You mean pills, medications…
Yes, pills. But from the psychiatrist. It is very difficult for me to sleep at night. I barely go out when the sun goes down. I fear. I’m really scared in general. Hey, someone’s going to attack me. When there are fireworks, it was something I enjoyed, but now I can’t enjoy them anymore.
How well you speak Spanish. Where did you learn it?
THANKS. I love Spanish. I love speaking languages. That’s why I learned it. I traveled all over Latin America and Central America, I don’t know, for about four years.
Are you professionally dedicated to travel?
Yes. He had a travel agency. Now I don’t really work anymore. Since the attack, I couldn’t come back. I don’t work the same. And I have to go to Spain. I only went to Madrid. It’s not enough. I have to fix everything.
When you come to Madrid, think of us. And it will be a pleasure to sit and have a coffee with you…
I would love that, I really do.
