5 Israelis arrested for looting sound equipment of man murdered by Hamas at rave

Hardware worth $530,000 returned to Matan Lior’s father, who says suspects personally knew his son; indictment to be filed against them

Police collect sound equipment stolen from the aftermath of the Supernove music festival massacre, November 16, 2023. (Israel Police)
Police collect sound equipment stolen from the aftermath of the Supernove music festival massacre, November 16, 2023. (Israel Police)

Police said Friday that they had arrested five individuals suspected of stealing the sound equipment from a man murdered at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel, where over 260 were massacred by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

The equipment, worth some NIS 2 million ($530,000), was found in the homes of the suspects and then returned to Matan Lior’s father.

The suspects — named as Ram Shaheen, Yasser Matni, Daniel Hasson, Adham Abu-Rukon and Sun Tevel — were arrested in Qalansawe, Isfiya and Daliyat al-Karmel.

They are believed to have arrived at the scene of the massacre near Kibbutz Re’im after the violence died down, taking advantage of the chaos to make away with the expensive equipment that soundman Lior, 35, had brought to the party.

Police said that an indictment would be filed against the suspects, along with a request to confiscate equipment worth NIS 185,000 ($50,000) allegedly used by the suspects to carry out the crime.

Lior was murdered along with hundreds of revelers as Hamas terrorists stormed the area and mowed down attendees, kidnapping many others into Gaza.

Ofer, his father, said that police returned his son’s wallet and ID card, which were also stolen, and added that the thieves had personally known his son.

“It was Matan’s whole world,” he told the Ynet news site, adding that the perpetrators had even showed up for his son’s shiva to console the family.

They “hugged me and said they share in my grief,” Ofer continued. “I never thought they could do such a thing. It saddens me that they knew him and did what they did.”

The rave was targetted by Hamas terrorists when they stormed into Israel via the destroyed Gaza border fence on October 7. Gunmen embarked on an onslaught in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking some 240 hostages.

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