Surviving October 7: A Widower's Struggle to Raise Nine Children Alone
Three years after Hamas terrorists murdered his pregnant wife on October 7, Hamid Abu Arar reflects on raising their nine children alone and coping with profound trauma.
Three years after the October 7 massacre, Hamid Abu Arar continues to live through the horrors of the day his pregnant wife, Fatma, was murdered by Hamas terrorists. Speaking as part of a special project by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Abu Arar recalled how the attack shattered his family, leaving him to raise nine young children alone while dealing with severe physical and psychological trauma.
On the morning of October 7, Abu Arar was driving to work in agriculture with Fatma, who was four months pregnant, and their six-month-old son, Elias. Hamas terrorists opened fire at their vehicle, murdering Fatma in front of her husband and wounding Hamid and the infant. Hamid hid with the baby for hours, overhearing the terrorists plan ambushes against incoming forces.
Anticipating a deadly firefight when IDF troops approached, Hamid removed his shirt to avoid being misidentified as a terrorist and emerged to warn the soldiers. After an initial shot missed him, an officer ordered a ceasefire, recognizing him as a local resident. Hamid warned them of the nearby Hamas ambush, averting a disaster before being evacuated to Soroka Medical Center with eleven shrapnel wounds.
Today, Abu Arar cares for his nine children, the eldest of whom is only eleven. Young Elias, now three, suffers from severe trauma and receives psychiatric care. Hamid shared that Elias recently approached him saying he had a big gun and repeating "Mom, blood," prompting Hamid to take the boy to wash Fatma's grave.
"I live a life that only Allah knows how I manage and how I cope with the children. There are nine of them. All I can say is that there is Allah in the sky," Abu Arar said, reflecting on his daily struggles.
Abu Arar, who was born in Gaza and raised in Rafah, condemned the terrorists for targeting a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf with a Quran in the car, stating that their actions had nothing to do with Islam. For his bravery during the attacks, Abu Arar was granted permanent residency and an Israeli identity card, expressing deep gratitude to Minister Moshe Arbel for his assistance.
