Hamas Attack On Israeli Techno Festival Leaves At Least 260 Dead And Many Missing
SASHA PFEIFER, PRESIDENT:
Today is the fourth day of the war in the Middle East. Israeli troops withdrew from Hamas-infiltrated sites this weekend as heavy rocket fire continued from the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, after Israeli airstrikes, some 200,000 Palestinians fled their homes to seek refuge. Authorities say 1,000 people have been killed in Israel and more than 900 in Gaza. Amid all these developments, the incident earlier this week continues to shock Israelis. The techno music festival was the site of the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history. NPR's Daniel Estrin explains how it happened. Warning, disturbing details.
DANIEL ESTRIN, BYLINE: The festival is called Supernova Parallel Universe Festival, Parallel Universe Festival...
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
ESTRIN: ...An outdoor trance music festival called "The Essence of Unity and Love in One Unique Place." It is located a few kilometers from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
ESTRIN: This TikTok video shows dancers in T-shirts and tank tops dancing under a festival tent when something strange starts falling from the sky: Hamas militants paragliding in from the Gaza Strip. They also crossed the border in trucks.
(overcoming obstacles)
ESTRIN: Other videos show crowds of Israelis fleeing on foot or in cars from the dusty camp. At the hospital I met another survivor, Roy Shalev.
ROW SHALEV: (speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He says as they fled, they were surrounded by 50 weapons in five trucks. He and the girl hid under a truck. The Chamberlains found them and shot them. He didn't know if his girlfriend would survive. I contacted him again today, three days after the attack.
SHALEV: (speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He says he and his friends didn't make it out alive. He said: I just stayed to tell their story.
SHALEV: (speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: Israel's emergency services say at least 260 bodies of Israeli citizens were recovered during the festival. Several Israeli citizens were arrested in the Gaza Strip. Shelley Shem Tov's 21-year-old son, Omer, sent real-time tracking information to her phone.
SHELLY SHAM TOV: We saw Omer enter Gaza and then we didn't see him again. Nothing from him.
ESTRIN: Until Hamas released the video. His face was blurry, but she recognized the yellow shirt, patterned pants, and tattoos on his arms. The boy's hands were tied behind his back, but there were no injuries.
SHAM TOV: One of his friends sent us a video of Omer in the car. I don't know where they'll take me. And this is hell. I was shocked to see him like this and didn't know where he was. I don't know what they did to him. And I have nothing to do.
ESTRIN: The Israeli military says now is not the time to explain how this disaster could happen on their heavily fortified border. A retired general was appointed to coordinate efforts to free the hostages. Army officials visited Shelley Shem Tov and informed her that her son was in Gaza. Nothing more was said. I spoke with several other parents whose children were at the festival. I asked them what Israel should do. One parent, Meir Zohar, pointed the finger at the government.
MEIR ZOHAR: (speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He says Bibi, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders should resign. They should be ashamed, he said. Crazy failure here. He said that, like most Israelis, Gaza must be destroyed. Another mother, Ahuva Maisel, told me she didn't want revenge.
AHUVA MAISEL: Everyone should resign: they want revenge, you know? For revenge: us and them. Something has to happen. There must be something more between these two people. Revenge will not bring my daughter back.
ESTRIN: The concert massacre also affected Bono.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BONO: These beautiful children at a music festival.
ESTRIN: This weekend he performed "Pride" with new lyrics reminiscent of "Stars of David."
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BONO: Star of David, they took your life, but they can't take your honor. (Singing) I can't take away your honor, I can't take away your honor, I can't take away your honor...
ESTRIN: Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Be'er Sheva, Israel. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
The NPR transcript was hastily prepared by an NPR contractor. This text may not be definitive and may be updated or corrected in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. Official recordings of NPR programs are audio recordings.
