'He brought light': Chandler man reflects on Israeli nephew slain in music festival attack

Jose R. Gonzalez, Arizona Republic
Updated ·4 min read
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Brian Newman knew his nephew, David Newman, was at the Supernova Sukkat Gathering music festival on Oct. 7 in southern Israel when armed militants with Hamas attacked the event.

The 58-year-old Chandler resident waited by the phone to hear about David’s whereabouts. A call from Brian Newman to, one of David’s brothers, confirmed the 25-year-old had been killed while taking cover. He was among the 260 who died during the music festival attack; more than 1,400 people in Israel died during the attacks by Hamas that Saturday.

Newman is now reflecting on David and how his presence shined through to all who surrounded him."He brought light and joy and fun and friendship and peace and protecting and helping to those around him," Newman said of his nephew in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "David loved everybody."Newman likened his brawny, 6-foot-2-inch-tall nephew to King David, ruler of the Israelites in the Old Testament.

David Newman was a 25-year-old Israeli killed by Hamas in their attack on a festival in southern Israel. Newman had family in Chandler.
David Newman was a 25-year-old Israeli killed by Hamas in their attack on a festival in southern Israel. Newman had family in Chandler.

"He was big. He was beautiful," Newman said.

David Newman left behind four brothers and a sister. The children's mother died of cancer 10 years ago. After his sister married, the boys fended for themselves in a hundred-year-old house in the Old City of Jerusalem, Newman recounted.

David was at the festival with about 20 friends. Before the attack, David could be seen in photos and video dancing and laughing among close companions.

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After the shooting started, David kept in contact with one of his brothers via phone.

According to his uncle, David served two years in the Israel Defense Forces and was a reservist. And when bullets showered down on the festival, he went into rescue mode and helped lead a group of 12 to 18 to construction dumpsters to hide in.

They were spotted and killed. His remains were recovered about a day and a half later.

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David’s girlfriend was wounded in her leg but survived. David's friend, who was also in hiding with the group, was not hurt.

Newman said Hamas likely targeted the festival because many attendees were unarmed and off guard, comparing the festivities to Burning Man, the counterculture event in the Nevada desert.

David had been traveling the world recently — trekking through Peru for the last six months and visiting South Africa six months before then.

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Even though David never visited Arizona, Newman said his nature-loving nephew knew the state by photos family would send him. The cactus in Arizona fascinated David, who found similarities between the state’s and Israel’s desert landscapes.

"I’d call him to help him out," Newman said of phone conversations he would occasionally have with David. The uncle had close communication with three of his nephews, adding a call would often lead to "a really strong, deep talk with (them)."

The last time Newman saw David was while visiting Israel in December 2018. COVID-19 precluded a visit in March 2020.

Chandler resident Brian Newman, left, is seen with his nephew, David Newman, in this December 2018 photo taken in Israel. David Newman, an Israeli, died Oct. 7, 2023 during the Supernova Sukkat Gathering music festival in southern Israel in an attack perpetrated by Hamas.
Chandler resident Brian Newman, left, is seen with his nephew, David Newman, in this December 2018 photo taken in Israel. David Newman, an Israeli, died Oct. 7, 2023 during the Supernova Sukkat Gathering music festival in southern Israel in an attack perpetrated by Hamas.

For Jewish people, he said visiting Israel is like a homecoming.

"It's just something magical," Newman said. "By the time you get there, you’re family."

Israel, Newman said, operates differently than the U.S., with less of a focus on careers and material possessions. Israeli parents allow their kids to revel in life because there always lingers the uncertainty that they may not live past their 20s, he said.Newman added that young Israelis like David, "work hard. They play hard. They pray hard, and they fight hard. And they pray hard for peace."

Hamas has taken about 200 hostages. On Thursday, Israel raided a northern part of Hamas-controlled Gaza. A ground invasion of the territory by Israel was expected soon, according to The Associated Press.

There have been 7,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict since war broke out, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 100 have been killed in the West Bank, according to The Associated Press.

Newman has a cousin in the Isreal Defense Forces, who is also related to David. The cousin has asked the family for prayer and for a lasting peace to come from this war.

"This is the final straw. We're not going to take it anymore. Never means never, and never is today," Newman said.

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter:@jrgzztx.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chandler man remembers Israeli nephew slain by Hamas at music festival