Those We Have Lost

Sgt. Maj. Debbie Abraham, 40: Police officer on duty at rave

Killed fighting Hamas terrorists at the Supernova music festival, October 7

Command Chief Sgt. Debbie Abraham who was killed near Kibbutz Re'im on October 7, 2023. (Israel Police)
Command Chief Sgt. Debbie Abraham who was killed near Kibbutz Re'im on October 7, 2023. (Israel Police)

Sgt. Maj. Dvorah “Debbie” Abraham, 40, a police officer with the Ofakim Station, was killed battling Hamas terrorists near Re’im on October 7.

Abraham, who lived in the small southern moshav of Talmei Yosef, was working as security at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im early Saturday morning, when Hamas terrorists stormed the party, killing at least 260 people.

Friends and family described Abraham as an animal lover with startling blue eyes, who would always feed stray cats. She was dedicated to her job and doted on her nephews. She was pursuing a master’s degree in conflict resolution at Ben Gurion University.

Her friend and colleague Bat Mishael, a fellow police officer, was also working as security at the music festival on October 7. In a Facebook post, Mishael described the scenes of horror as they tried to fight off the swarm of armed terrorists.

“We met for a few minutes for a short hug in the early morning and then the worst horror movie in the universe began to unfold,” she wrote. “I ran to evacuate civilians from the party” as air raid sirens began, but soon “I realized that the Kassam rockets were not the worst we would encounter.”

Mishael recalled trying to take down terrorists while hiding from gunfire, running past piles of bodies and trying to contact Abraham but receiving no response. “It went on for hours and hours, hours where their ammo never run out but I had no bullets left… I’m so sorry Debbie.”

She described her friend as “a queen, a lioness, a warrior who stands for her principles and what she swore allegiance to — you swore to protect and to serve the residents of Israel and that’s what you did!… You didn’t flee or disappear you fought and you fought as long as your heart was still beating.”

Abraham’s friend, Maya Jacob, wrote that over the years, she “saved me in so many different situations — you are a pure soul, with a heart of gold, the best of the best. You were full of unconditional generosity and love.”

“You were our lioness, our superhero, our guardian angel who protected us from all harm,” Jacob added. “Even in the final unbearably painful hours, you gave the fight of your life, because that’s you — a warrior!”

Abraham’s brother, Shimon Abraham, wrote on Facebook of the immense pain he was feeling in the wake of her death.

“My beloved Debbie, my hero, I am choked with tears, my heart is broken, the pain is destroying me from within,” he wrote. “My whole life is intertwined with yours. I cannot come to terms with the thought of continuing without you. I miss your angelic eyes so much, your huge heart, your loving presence.”

“Please, stay close to me, I am begging,” he added. “I promise to rise from this tragedy when I am capable. I love you until the end of my life.”

Read more Those We Have Lost stories here.

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