Former Gaza hostage, October 7 survivors receive therapeutic Healing Ink tattoos
Healing Ink aims to help survivors take back a sense of agency through tattooing, in what CEO Craig Dershowitz described as “a reclamation of their body, of their mind, and of their life story.”
Former Gaza hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal and other Israelis who were impacted by Hamas’s October 7 massacre received therapeutic tattoos courtesy of the Healing Ink program on Friday.
The Healing Ink program is a project created over a decade ago by the nonprofit Art Over Hate to help survivors of terrorist attacks.
Healing Ink aims to help survivors take back a sense of personal agency through the process of tattooing in what Art Over Hate CEO Craig Dershowitz described as “a reclamation of their body, of their mind, and of their life story.”
Ben Gida, the owner of Gida Tattoo Studio, the shop where the Healing Ink event was held, described tattoos as “a way to take something painful and transform it.”
“You can turn a scar you did not choose into art that carries meaning, identity, and personal power,” Ben Gida stated.
Devastation inside a home on Kibbutz Nir Oz from the October 7, 2023, massacre. (credit: ISAFRIR ABAYOV/FLASH90)
Some of the participants were wounded by terrorists during the massacre and will receive tattoos to cover their physical scars.
Other participants have psychological scars left behind by the traumatic memories of the terrorist attack.
One of the massacre survivors receiving a tattoo at the event is Itamar Gilead, who fought off a Hamas terrorist during the attack and trapped him in a barn, holding him for hours until police arrived.
Gilead shared that he hopes the tattoo therapy will allow him to feel like he is no longer fighting for survival as he did on October 7.
Two of the recipients suffer from secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including Alon Kuli, a police officer who was one of the first members of law enforcement to arrive on the scene of the massacre. He helped care for those injured in the attack and identified the bodies of the victims.
Former hostage inspired brother’s tattoo before release
Guy and Gal Gilboa-Dalal’s work with Healing Ink began while Guy was still being held in captivity by Hamas, having been taken hostage from the Nova Music Festival during the October 7 attack.
During his 737-day captivity, Guy managed to secretly send a message to his brother, referencing a song that kept him hopeful through his ordeal.
Before his brother’s release, Gal had a tattoo inspired by that song done by Healing Ink. When Guy finally returned home, he saw the tattoo and broke down in tears, inspiring him to get his own Healing Ink piece.
