Karla Stelzer Mendes

Stelzer moved to Israel, to Kiryat Malachi, about 12 years ago with her young son, who is currently serving in the army. She and her partner, Gabi Azulay, were both murdered while attempting to escape attacking Hamas terrorists at the site of the Nova festival.

“The beautiful and beloved Karla, a fighter for freedom, it was a pleasure and a privilege to share with you thousands of experiences of joy around the world,” wrote her friend, Natali Kabesa, on Facebook.

Mey-Tal Menta Rahmin recalled Stelzer as someone with “a captivating personality, smiling, always ready to help.” Rahmin said that “from a place of love we would imitate her speaking broken Hebrew with a Brazilian accent… how much you would laugh and how much we loved you.”