At least 260 killed at music festival near Gaza after militant group attack

The Tribe of Nova music festival held near the Re'im kibbutz was attacked by militant group Hamas on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

The weekend-long outdoor psytrance music festival started on Friday, October 6, taking place approximately 5 kilometres from the Gaza-Israel barrier.

It had gathered thousands of festival goers in the desert — Israeli officials and media accounts also confirm the presence of American and British nationals in the crowd.

At around 6:30am, festival attendees said they heard a siren blaring warning of incoming rockets. One of them mentioned how the first rocket noise “sounded like it was part of the music”, and continued by describing how he and his friends “felt bullets flying all around us” while they ran towards their vehicles in an attempt to flee.

As attendees tried to leave in their vehicles, roads quickly became congested, rendering movement impossible. It was at this point the gunshots began.

Several videos on social media show Hamas militants infiltrating the festival grounds via motorised paragliders, while others arrived in vans and jeeps and opened fire towards those trying to escape. They also cut the festival’s electricity.

Survivors took cover under bushes until the Israeli military arrived five hours later — Jerusalem-based search and rescue service, ZAKA, mentioned at the time it had recovered at least 260 bodies at the festival site.

According to AJ+, the attack on Saturday is the biggest military challenge Israel has faced since 1973.

The music festival attack is said to be part of a larger assault on Israel executed by Hamas, who breached a heavily fortified border fence in an unexpected surprise attack that commenced on Saturday.

A viral video shows a young woman being forcibly taken by men on a motorcycle while she pleaded for help, while a man is being escorted away with hands restrained behind his back — it is highly suspected they have been taken hostage in Gaza.

With dozens still missing, festival organisers are said to be aiding Israeli security in finding the missing attendees.

Via: Daily Mail & CNN

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.