Israeli authorities confirmed on Tuesday that First Sgt. Igor Pibenev, a decorated police officer who killed more than a dozen Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, has died by suicide.

Pibenev, who was stationed in Hebron at the time of the Hamas incursion, became one of the early responders credited with saving numerous lives during the initial hours of the attack. Upon hearing news of the invasion, he immediately drove toward his home in the border community of Yated.

During his journey home, Pibenev encountered and neutralized at least 13 Hamas gunmen in multiple engagements. His first confrontation occurred near Urim Junction, where he stopped his vehicle after hearing gunfire, identified armed attackers, and eliminated two of them. Minutes later, he engaged and killed two more terrorists in another firefight.

As he continued toward his residence, Pibenev neutralized nine additional attackers, including several who were heading toward the moshav of Nir Yitzhak. After reuniting with his family in Yated, he joined the local volunteer security force to defend the community.

"We had trained for scenarios like this, but I never imagined we'd face such a large number of terrorists," Pibenev said in a January 2024 interview with the police spokesperson's unit.

His funeral is scheduled for this evening at 6 p.m. at the Ashkelon Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Hani Liderman-Pibenev, and their three daughters.

The Hidden Wounds of Conflict

Pibenev's death highlights the severe psychological impact that violent conflicts can have on first responders and security personnel. His wife had previously spoken about the psychological toll of the October 7 attack, describing the lingering trauma many survivors continue to face.

In a social media post three months ago, she wrote about the "silent victims of October 7," urging families to seek professional help for loved ones suffering from post-traumatic stress.

"If there are people around you who have been deteriorating since that Shabbat, turn the world upside down to make sure they get professional help and proper treatment. Don't try to save them by yourselves," she wrote in the post, which now carries a heartbreaking significance following her husband's death.

Mental health experts often note that individuals who experience or witness extreme violence, particularly in defense of others, may suffer from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that requires professional intervention.