Community Corner
Mercer County Native Killed In Israel, Parents Say
Laor Abramov was attending a music festival in Israel when he was reported missing, his parents said.
MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A 20-year-old Mercer County native missing in Israel is dead, his family said.
Laor Abramov used to live in Hopewell with his mother, before moving overseas to pursue a career as a DJ.
“My only son the love of my life passed from here. The world has come to a standstill,” Laor’s mother, Michal Halev, a Hopewell resident posted on Facebook.
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Laor was at a music festival when Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.
"My heart aches on the death of our beloved Or Avramov. Our house is open to anyone who wants to come and bring his heart and condolences," his father David Abramov posted on Facebook.
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His parents went on CNN recently and said their son was last seen at a bomb shelter.
"We had an eyewitness that survived in the same bomb shelter he was in, that called us after she recovered and talked to us," David Abramov told 6ABC.
Laor lived in NJ until last year, when he returned to Israel to serve in the military and pursue his dream of becoming a DJ like his father, reported the NY Post.
In the interview with CNN Laor’s parents called their 6’4” son a “gentle giant.”
On Thursday Gov. Phil Murphy said he was "devastated to learn" of Laor's death. "Our prayers are with his family as they grieve this unimaginable loss," Murphy said on platform X.
Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes said he was devastated to learn that the Mercer County native was among the "innocent victims tragically killed in the terrorist attack" on Israel by Hamas.
"We grieve for all who whose lives have been taken, including children, the elderly and entire families, and condemn this shocking attack on Israel. I ask all our residents to join us in prayer for Lior's family and for all who remain missing," Hughes said.
According to media reports, Laor was not at the fated rave party to DJ, but was there as a reveler, when Hamas unleashed a brutal attack.
On Saturday, the militant group Hamas killed 700 Israelis, including children, and kidnapped hundreds off the street.
Among those killed were more than 200 attending a music festival, according to international media reports.
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