Elyakim Libman, 23: Festival security guard nicknamed ‘Robin Hood’

Elyakim Shlomo Libman, 23, from the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, was murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Supernova music festival on October 7.

For seven months, he was presumed to be held hostage in Gaza, as no remains had ever been identified in Israel. But in May 2024, following an investigation, his remains were confirmed to have been accidentally buried alongside those of Victoria Gorelov/Brandis, who was also slain at the festival.

Both Elyakim and Victoria were working as security guards at the rave that morning. Some victims of the Hamas massacres had their bodies burned or otherwise mutilated beyond recognition, making identification difficult. They are both believed to have been killed while hiding in or next to an ambulance at the scene that was struck by a Hamas grenade, burning some of those inside beyond recognition, including Shani Gabay, who was also initially mistakenly buried with someone else.

According to his family, Elyakim stayed behind for hours treating other wounded people until he himself was killed. Another security guard who survived said Elyakim and his friend and fellow guard, Eitan Mor stopped to help an injured woman, ignoring his pleas to flee the site and save themselves. Eitan was kidnapped and is believe to still be held hostage in Gaza.

Elyakim was buried in Hebron on May 5, 2024. He is survived by his parents, Avishag and Eliyahu, and his seven siblings: Emuna, Elkana, Elisha, Oriya, Oshra, Aviya and Avichay.

He grew up in the religious settlement of Kiryat Arba, where his father, Eliyahu, serves as the local council chief. After high school he attended the Telem pre-army academy, and then enlisted in the Golani Brigade for his mandatory military service. After being released, Elyakim decided to pursue culinary studies, and worked in restaurants as well as working for a jeep tour company.

He had moved to Tel Aviv just a few months before he was killed, his family said. His friends said he had hoped to study law in the future.

While he was still considered missing, his sister, Emuna, told the Makor Rishon newspaper that he’s “incredible, with a huge heart who just wanted to give of himself, materially and spiritually. Full of love.” The family would call him “Robin Hood,” she joked, because of his desire to help those less fortunate.

“He would tell me, ‘I have a few free hours, maybe I’ll come help you with the kids?’ He always wanted to help all the time, if you asked for assistance he was the first to show up, if others didn’t have strength he would always help… he’s always happy, helping, funny, full of good energy,” Emuna added.

She said that’s why his family wasn’t surprised to hear that he had been helping others at the festival, since “he couldn’t stand watching a situation where anyone was hurting someone weaker than them.”

At his funeral, his mother, Avishag, said her son was a “sweet, smiling, and smart boy” and was remembered for his good deeds by the “thousands” who attended the funeral.

“We wanted you to get married at the Cave of the Patriarchs and in the end, we are burying you next to it,” Avishag lamented.

She told the Kan public broadcaster a week later that “as I know him, it could be that Elyakim would prefer not to be a hostage and be humiliated and instead to die heroically. But ultimately a mom wants her son by her side. I hoped for a different ending, that he was alive, that he would overcome the suffering… but God planned otherwise.”

Avishag said that “from videos and witnesses we know that he treated the wounded and rescued people from the rave with a tractor… he was always acting with courage and dedication to save as many people as possible.”

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