24-year-old ‘fun-loving’ Utah man killed by Hamas in Israel rave attack: rabbi

A 24-year-old “fun-loving” man from Utah has been identified as one of the Americans killed in the terror attacks in Israel over the weekend, his friends confirmed Tuesday.

Lotan Abir, who was new to the Beehive State, was one of the more than 260 music festival revelers who were slaughtered by Hamas fighters at a rave on Saturday, Rabbi Avremi Zippel told the Salt Lake Tribune.

Abir was with a few friends from Utah’s Jewish community when the horrific attack began.

While two pals were able to escape the gunfire, Abir went missing, Zippel told the newspaper.

He was confirmed dead by officials on Sunday.

“He was the sort of person that you would want to call your friend,” Zippel said.

“He ultimately gave up his life for the sake of our people at a rave while celebrating some of his greatest passions in life. … Just a kind, sweet, fun-loving, innocent soul who was massacred by a terrorist.”

He first moved to Utah toward the end of 2022 after wrapping up military service in Israel, but went back to the Jewish state this summer to attend a few events, Zippel reportedly said.

At least 14 Americans are confirmed to have been killed in the Hamas surprise attack, while more than 1,000 Israelis were slain.

Abir’s friend Elad Ogorek, who also lives in Utah, was told by the two other friends at the festival that neither heard from Abir after they fled.

“We knew it was going to be bad news; we didn’t know what type of bad news it was gonna be,” Ogorek said. “We actually said ourselves, and asked each other, ‘What’s better — to get kidnapped to Gaza or just die?’”

Other American victims identified so far include 32-year-old Hayim Katsman, an Israeli-American citizen from Seattle, and Debbie Mathias, 50, an Israeli-American who was born in Missouri.

Ogorek told the Salt Lake Tribune his pal will be remembered for having a good heart and always ready to lend a helping hand.

“He died doing a thing we all like to do: to dance and enjoy our freedom,” Ogorek said.