October 7th: Chilling IDF Probe Reveals New Details of Aner Shapira’s Heroism
Aner Shapira HY''D threw back over ten grenades to protect civilians in the "Shelter of Death" on October 7. A new IDF investigation confirms his superhuman bravery, revealing that even after losing his hand to an RPG blast, Aner used his final moments to hurl two more grenades out of the bunker.
Two and a half years after the October 7 massacre, new details have emerged from an official IDF investigation into the legendary last stand of Aner Shapira at the "Bomb Shelter of Death."
The Final Stand
Aner’s mother, Shira, recently shared the findings of the IDF probe, which provide a granular look at the courage displayed by the Nahal Reconnaissance unit fighter. According to the investigation, Aner managed to catch and throw back at least ten grenades, and possibly more, that were hurled into the shelter by Hamas terrorists.
The most harrowing revelation in the report describes Aner’s resilience under fire: even after being struck by an RPG blast that resulted in the loss of one of his hands, Aner continued to fight. The probe confirms that in his final moments, he successfully threw back two additional grenades using his remaining hand to protect the civilians huddled behind him.
In a tragic twist, Aner's friend, Hersch Goldberg-Polin also lost his hand in the same attack. He was taken hostage by Hamas and alter murdered in captivity.
The "Shelter of Death"
The incident took place in a small roadside bomb shelter near Re'im, where dozens of civilians had sought refuge after fleeing the Nova music festival. While Hamas militants surrounded the structure and launched a relentless assault of gunfire and explosives, Aner stood at the entrance as the sole line of defense.
While dozens of young people ultimately lost their lives in the shelter that day, many others survived solely because of Aner’s repeated actions to intercept the grenades. This latest investigation solidifies the legacy of a soldier who refused to stop protecting others, even after sustaining catastrophic injuries.