Young Israeli women reveal how they outwitted Hamas

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They survived murderous Hamas terrorists by playing dead for more than two hours, thanks to the help of a stranger.

And this week, two young Israeli women told their harrowing story of escape and survival at a Toronto fundraiser for Ezer Mizion, Israel’s largest health support provider.

Best friends Ester Borochov, 20 and Shir Zohar, 21, fled the October 7 attack on the Nova music festival in Borochov’s car, but couldn’t escape the Hamas terrorists that flooded southern Israel.

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“They started shooting at us at point blank,” Borochov said in a media interview at the time. A young stranger, Ori Arad, rescued them in his Jeep, but he was shot and the car overturned.  “We played dead, me and my friend, for two and a half hours …  That’s how we survived.”

Here is their story, adapted from their speaking notes, in their own words:

(ESTER)

I live with my mother and two little sisters in Bat Yam, not far from Tel Aviv.

Shir and I are not huge partygoers, but it was an event that we knew was going to be incredible so we decided to go. We got to the party parking lot in Re’im at about 4 a.m. Everybody was warm and friendly, the vibe was peace and love with so many different nationalities.

We danced for an hour, and I had a colourful tattoo done on my arm. At 6 a.m., we decided to go back to the car, change our clothes and take some cigarettes, took pictures when the sun was about to come up to remember this special moment.

On our way back to the party, we saw tons of missiles in the sky. At first I didn’t realize what happened; you know, in Israel it’s not really unusual. But I understood we were not safe, we were very close to Gaza. I felt fear, everybody was on the ground. My mom called me to get back home right now. I knew we had to do it immediately.

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After driving for about 10 minutes, I saw five men wearing IDF uniforms and green headbands blocking the road. I knew in the first second they were terrorists. I shouted to Shir, “terrorists are shooting at us.” The two cars in front of us went back immediately to the party. I made a split second decision to put my foot on the gas and raced right through them.

They said we must get moving right now, I said to him there is no way — I have to wait for Shir, my friend

Our windshield was hit; all the bullets got inside the car but didn’t hurt us. That was one of our miracles.

I couldn’t see anything. I told Shir, “I can’t drive like this,” Shir screamed, “Keep going!” but the second I did, another car ran into us.

I yelled to Shir, “Let’s get out of here!” At this point I realized we have to go out now.

We later found out that, five minutes later, terrorists stole my car and took it to Gaza. We thought at this point the danger was behind us; we didn’t realized what a major attack this was going to be. We just prayed that no one should see us.

(SHIR)

We started walking down the highway and saw a group of old Arab workers who were shot, bleeding on the road. They told us to stay there and hide with them, I looked at them and thought about it for a second. Ester said “No way. Maybe they’re terrorists, too?”

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We kept walking until we saw three cars on the road in a strange circle. Between the cars were a few boys who tried to calm us down.

One of them, Ori Arad, a 22-year-old who’d been bartender at the festival, our hero. He got back into his car, spoke to his dad and said to him that he is leaving, there is no way he was staying here. I asked him if we could can join him, he said “Of course, join in,” and even thought to give us a bottle of water, and said: “Don’t worry girls, you gonna get out of here, that’s my promise. ‘

I sat on the floor of the car. Ester sat on the back seat. I pulled her down to hide. After we drove a few minutes, Ori said, “Don’t be stressed, there gonna be shots now,” another gang started shooting at us. And that what’s really happened.

Ori ran over two terrorists. Non-stop shooting; Ori lost control of the car. We flipped over three times. I saw Ester flipped in the car, we landed in a ditch at the side of the road. Ester’s body was not next to me anymore. I only saw her legs.

I looked at Ori and saw the bullets hit him. I checked all over my body that I’m not bleeding too. I right away pulled Ester’s body next to me. I pinched Ester to realize if she awake, because I saw her head bleeding.

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A few seconds later, I heard total chaos above me, on the road. At least 30 Arabs were screaming at each other. Ester woke up, she understood she can’t make any noise. Ori woke up, looked at Ester and smiled, and turned on the radio at top volume.

The terrorists came again at 8 a.m., and made sure Ori is dead, but didn’t saw us. That was once of our miracles too.

At this point we heard on the radio that terrorists had kidnaped people and soldiers. That was our biggest fear. To be raped, and taken by Hamas terrorists. Every few seconds, Ester and I pinched each other in the leg – that was our sign that everything’s OK between us.

(ESTER)

Until 11 a.m. we tried to call people quietly. Shir called her mother to tell her she loves her. That this is the end. I couldn’t do it, it did not feel like the right time

I saw the field next to the ditch start catching fire.

I knew I had to convince Shir to get out of the car, because I couldn’t feel my body at all. I told Shir I’d push open the door – which was above my head — with my hands, and she should climb out over me and get help. It took me 20 minutes to convince her to do it, she told me that if she don’t come back in the next 20 minutes, she’s been killed.

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(SHIR)

I got out of the car and started running and running until I saw group of soldiers and fell on the ground. They took me to a safe place; after five minutes I remembered that Ester is still in the car, and I have to go back right now. They didn’t listen to me, but there’s no way I was leaving her there.

I started shouting at them, “There is a live girl in the car, and I know where she is.” They took me back. I saw a lot of bodies, and burning cars in the way, I couldn’t find her in all this chaos.

I asked them to find Ori also, they said to me a sentence I will never forget: “Who lives lives, who died is already dead.

(ESTER)

Every minute felt like an hour. I realized I couldn’t stay there alone, it was my biggest fear. I looked at Ori’s body and couldn’t stay there.

My only option was to roll out of the car door on the side near to the fire. I said to myself that if I’m not dead until now, God is with me and that if he had saved me so far I wouldn’t get burned in the fire.

So that’s what happened. I fell out of the door, rolled and picked myself up with strength I didn’t know I had. I saw soldiers on the road, I started waving my hands and screaming at them to help me. I understood the suspicions of the soldiers, I might be some sort of ambush, maybe I have bomb on me. They told me to come towards them if I need help. I told them I can’t feel my body and I have to get help.

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After a few minutes they finally came to help me and said we must get moving right now, I said to him there is no way — I have to wait for Shir, my friend. I don’t know where but she is here around, and I’m not leaving without her.

A few minutes later a car pulled up and it was Shir with four soldiers. I just felt complete in this second

We got to the hospital and the doctor said everything is OK, go back home. The way home was closed because there was still terrorists running outside.

(SHIR)

They took us to a shelter in Sderot, but we saw there a huge chaos. I saw a shot soldier, and decided I’m not leaving him no matter what; two minutes later we all got into an ambulance to get to the hospital.

(ESTER)

We slept the night in Ashkelon.

After we came home and I waited for my body to get back to itself. I didn’t let myself complain, how can I when there are people who never get the chance get home after this terrible day. I tried to be thankful as much possible I could.

Three days later, my mother insisted on taking me to the hospital. They took another X-ray and said that the vertebra above the tailbone is broken and it’s a miracle I’m still walking, that I need surgery immediately as if left I could be paralyzed from my legs down.

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I had successfully surgery. It was a very difficult time for me, but I’m still trying appreciate the fact I’m alive and standing.

Both Shir and I are trying to return to life, to understand that every day is a gift and that we were saved by unusual and crazy miracles. We discovered strengths we never knew we had and a drive to survive. We support each other on difficult days, because you can’t know in which mood you will wake up tomorrow.

Today, Shir is trying to rebuild her life and religion gives her amazing flashes of light. And I am recovering, I’m in the middle of the way.

Remember this face.

(SHIR)

I thank God every moment that I’m still here. I probably have something to do in this world.

We visit the family of our angel, Ori Arad, all the time. We would prefer not to have gotten to know each other by this situation, but they are the strongest and most amazing people we have ever met, and they will be our family forever.

It’s because of them and to keep alive the name of Ori Arad that we are sharing our story here today. Remember the name Ori Arad, because of him we could speak here today.

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