Yaniv Sarudi, 26: Brought others to safety after shot twice

Yaniv Sarudi, 26, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the Supernova music festival on October 7.

Eyewitnesses recounted that he grabbed a weapon from one of the attackers and started shooting back before jumping into his vehicle with his girlfriend, Sivan, collecting eight other people along the way and driving as fast as possible.

Sarudi tried to drive to a nearby IDF base before realizing that it had been taken over by Hamas. He kept driving until he reached safety, even after he was shot twice by terrorists.

Sarudi ultimately died of his wounds, as did another passenger, Amit Cohen, but others he collected along the way survived, including his girlfriend.

He was buried on October 10 in Beersheba. He is survived by his parents, Leah and Moshe and his siblings Nofar and Raanan.

Born and raised in the West Bank settlement of Livne, in the south Hebron hills, Yaniv attended schools in Meitar, Ashkelon and Beersheba, according to a state eulogy.

After finishing high school he attended a pre-military academy in Mitzpe Ramon before enlisting in the IDF and being posted as a driver at a training base in the Negev.

But Yaniv was determined to take on a combat role and successfully fought to transfer to the Kfir Brigade, later completing a squad commanders course.

After his release, Yaniv worked for two years in deliveries and in 2023 he began to work as a production assistant and later producer of commercials, films and TV shows. He attended the festival as part of its logistics production team.

His mother, Leah, eulogized him at his funeral.

“Our hero! You exhibited bravery against terrorists who showed up in masses, you fought, and instead of fleeing to save yourself, you collected your beloved Sivan and another eight people and you flew,” she said, according to a local news site. “You got them to a safe place and you paid the ultimate price.”

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