Music festivals are generally associated with moments of joy, dancing and conviviality. However, it sometimes happens that these festive events are the scene of dramatic situations, as was the case during the “Tribe of Nova” festival in Israel, on Saturday October 7. Participants were targeted by Hamas attackers, leaving many dead and injured.
Tal Anavim, a 23-year-old Israeli woman, recounted the attack and her escape to France 24 Observers journalists. According to her account, the attack began around 6 a.m., with rockets fired toward Israel. . At first, festival-goers did not realize the seriousness of the situation, accustomed to hearing gunfire in this region. But quickly, the attackers moved towards them, forcing them to run in search of safety.
The scene was chaotic, with terrorists emerging from all directions. Some festival-goers who tried to escape were caught and shot. Tal and the other survivors walked for several hours, crossing fields to escape the attackers. Eventually, they found shelter in a safe place, where they waited for three hours before being evacuated to Beersheba.
The attack was particularly deadly, with at least 260 bodies recovered by emergency services on site. Tal’s friends were also injured, some by gunfire and others hit by explosives. Among the participants, many people were missing. Social media was flooded with messages of support and photos of wanted people.
This tragic attack during the “Tribe of Nova” festival is once again a reminder of the tensions and violence that persist in this region. Festivals, symbols of freedom and unity, sometimes become grounds for conflicts and unrest. Despite this, it is important to continue promoting music and culture, hoping that such events will not happen again in the future.
Sources:
– https://observers.france24.com/fr/20231008-festival-trance-israel-temoignage-attack-hamas-bande-gaza