Zikim Beach October 7 Survivor Demands Answers and Fights for Disability Rights
Matan Shlomo and his cousin survived the October 7 massacre at Zikim Beach after hiding in a bush for eight hours. Today, he battles severe trauma and fights the National Insurance Institute for disability rights.
Matan Shlomo and his cousin Roi Nahum survived the October 7 massacre at Zikim Beach, enduring an eight-hour ordeal hidden in a bush after coming under heavy fire from the sea and land. Today, nearly three years later, Shlomo continues to grapple with severe physical and psychological trauma while fighting the National Insurance Institute over his disability recognition.
The fateful morning began when the two cousins from the Eshkol Regional Council arrived at Zikim Beach the previous night to fish. At 6:29 AM, as rocket barrages filled the sky, they quickly realized a major security incident was unfolding. Shlomo recounted seeing a Navy vessel approaching the shore and firing, followed swiftly by boats carrying terrorists who infiltrated the beach.
Surviving the Battle of Zikim
Recognizing the extreme danger, the cousins attempted to flee toward the border before doubling back to the beach. During the fierce clashes, Roi Nahum was shot in the face and seriously wounded. The two managed to crawl into a dense bush, where they hid for eight hours while armed terrorists roamed nearby. Shlomo recalled hearing footsteps and gunfire just feet away from their hiding spot.
I stayed with my cousin with a bullet in his face. Why did I have to sit for eight hours in a bush from the moment we ran from the terrorists? Why wasn't anyone notified? Shlomo asked.
The Aftermath and Struggle for Recognition
Rescue finally arrived around 1:40 PM. Shlomo handed his personal vehicle over to paratroopers to evacuate wounded soldiers and civilians. While his cousin received critical medical attention, Shlomo's own injuries—including blast trauma, internal damage, and knee ligament tears—were compounded by profound psychological scars that prevent him from returning to his agricultural work.
Despite being recognized as a victim of hostilities with a temporary 72% disability rating, Shlomo remains locked in a bureaucratic struggle with the National Insurance Institute. He also harbors deep frustration toward the military, pointing out that official investigations into the Zikim Beach battle omitted his harrowing experience and the actions of the soldiers who assisted him.
Despite the enduring pain, Shlomo still returns to Zikim Beach to fish, viewing it as an essential part of his recovery and renaming it in his mind as 'Zikim of Hope.'
