Israeli October 7 Hero Who Killed Over A Dozen Terrorists Dies Tragically

A heroic young Israeli police officer, a father of three who rushed to save his countrymen from Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, killing more than a dozen terrorists intent on slaughtering Israelis, took his own life after apparently suffering from survivor’s guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

First Sgt. Igor Pibenev, 32, the father of three daughters, was at the police station in Hebron on the morning of October 7 when he heard Hamas had launched its murderous assault. Driving to his home in Yated, a village near the Gaza border, he first encountered two terrorists near Urim Junction and killed them, prompting two other terrorists to start shooting at him, both of whom he killed.

“The scenario in my head was that I would get home and see a lifeless house, but I put fear aside,” Pibenev recalled. “From Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, I headed home, but I saw terrorists walking toward the kibbutz cowshed. Then a shootout began, lasting a few minutes. On the way from the police station to my community, I saw a suspicious white vehicle and stopped on the side of the road. I identified terrorists; I shot at them and eliminated them. We had drills for situations like these, but I never believed that we would confront so many terrorists. When I heard about what happened in Kibbutz Be’eri, I imagined how I’d be left without a wife and children, but I remained optimistic the entire time.”

“After I eliminated the terrorists, I received a message from my wife that she is currently at the neighbors’ with the children and she is fine and healthy. I said I am on my way,” Pibenev said.

“I entered the house, and the look my wife gave me and the girls was that I had arrived as they had hoped. … I gave a hug to the children … My feeling was that I was marrying my wife again and that I was back three more times in the delivery room with the excitement of seeing my children come into the world.”

Three months ago, Pivenev’s wife Chani posted on social media: “If there are people around you are have been sinking since that Saturday, (October 7) turn the world on its head so that they can get the proper professional help and treatment. Don’t try to save them alone, you can’t, and things will just get worse. Fight the feelings of guilt — it’s not your fault.”