Israeli-American Teen Shares Heartbreaking Story of Parents Killed by Hamas Terrorists

In a tragic turn of events, Deborah and Shlomi Matias, an Israeli-American couple, lost their lives while trying to protect their 16-year-old son, Rotem, during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Israel. The Matias family was among the more than 1,300 people killed over the weekend in the devastating assault. Rotem, who witnessed the horrifying incident, survived the attack but was shot in the abdomen. He managed to hide for over 12 hours after being wounded.

During an emotional interview with CNN, Rotem expressed his intention to keep the bullet that had injured him as a tribute to his parents. "I wanted to just keep it as a memory to never forget them and remember that even though it was the hardest and lowest point in my life, I found some hope that maybe I could live and share the memories, and how I saw my parents, with other people," he said. The teenager underwent surgery to remove the bullet and has been steadily recovering. "I'm able to walk now," he shared. "A few days ago, I couldn't even stand. The bullet in my stomach has been taken out through surgery, and I'm feeling much, much better."

Rotem was joined in the interview by his two sisters, Shakked and Shir, and their grandfather, Ilan Troen, a professor emeritus at Brandeis University. Troen recounted the traumatic events of that day, revealing that he had been on the phone with Deborah as she was killed. "We were on the phone the entire day with our grandson, Rotem, as he lay first under her body, and then found a place to escape," he said. Troen commended his daughter and son-in-law's bravery, saying, "What their parents did, Shlomi and Deborah, was very seriously, systematically, lovingly, and with great care and intelligence, create a family. Their life wasn't always so easy, but they overcame whatever obstacles they had in creating a beautiful family."

Shakked, Rotem's sister, shared the anxiety and fear she experienced while waiting to hear if her brother was safe. "'Mom and Dad are dead. Sorry,'" she recalled the chilling text message she received from Rotem. Cut off from communication, Shakked was left in limbo for nearly 14 hours, not knowing the fate of her parents or if her brother was out of harm's way. Eventually, Rotem and his sisters were reunited, left to cope with the profound loss of their loving parents.

Deborah Matias, a talented musician, had met her husband, Shlomi, at the Rimon School of Music in Tel Aviv. Rotem fondly remembered his parents' desire for their children to live joyfully and peacefully. "They wanted us to be happy, to be whimsical," he said, as his sisters nodded in agreement. Through their tears, the siblings shared a brief moment of bittersweet smiles.

The attack by Hamas was a devastating blow to Israel, with hundreds of people killed and many more injured. The White House confirmed that at least 27 Americans were among the dead. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of Gaza, leading to a blockade of electricity, food, and fuel. The Israeli Defense Forces also instructed all civilians in Gaza to evacuate the area, a command deemed “impossible” by the United Nations.

The Matias family's tragic story serves as a painful reminder of the toll that terrorism takes on innocent lives. Rotem plans to honor his parents' memory by carrying their love and strength with him always. "They won't die there," he asserted. "They will live on in memories and in stories.".