Hamas Attack On Israeli Techno Festival Leaves At Least 260 Dead And Many Missing
Sasha Pfeiffer, Host:
The fourth day of the war in the Middle East. At the end of this week, Israelis were evacuated from areas infiltrated by Hamas due to heavy rocket fire in the Gaza Strip. Israeli airstrikes forced nearly 200,000 Palestinians to flee their homes in Gaza in search of shelter. Officials say 1,000 people have been killed in Israel and more than 900 in Gaza. In the midst of all these events, the events of earlier this weekend continue to shock Israelis. The techno music festival was one of the worst attacks on civilians in Israeli history. NPR's Daniel Estrin talks about how they got back together. Warning: disturbing details.
Daniel Estrin, Internet: Supernova Universo Parallillo Festival, Festival of the Parallel Universe... called the festival.
(music sound)
Estrin: ...a trance music festival promoted as "the essence of unity and love in an amazing space". It was just a few kilometers from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
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ESTRIN: In this TikTok video, dancers in t-shirts and T-shirts are dancing under a party tent when a strange object starts falling from the sky - Hamas fighters parachuting in from the Gaza Strip. They also crossed the border in small trucks.
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ESTRIN: Another video shows dozens of Israelis running on foot or in cars across a dusty field. In the hospital I met a man named Roy Shalev.
Roy Shalev: (speaks in Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He said they surrounded the 50 guns in the five trucks as they were fleeing. He and his girlfriend hid under a truck. The wardrobes found them and killed them. He didn't know if his girlfriend would. I congratulated you again today, three days after the attack.
Shalev: (I speak Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He said that he and his friend did not survive. He said he only stayed to tell their story.
Shalev: (I speak Hebrew).
ESTRIN: Israeli emergency services say they have recovered the bodies of at least 260 Israelis during the holiday. Some Israelis were sent to Gaza as prisoners. Shem Tov of Shelly sent her 21-year-old son, Omar, to the site to monitor the event on his phone.
Shelly Shem Tov: We saw Omar going to Gaza, but we didn't see anything after that. None.
Estrin: Until Hamas releases the video. His face was blurry, but he recognized the yellow shirt, the plaid pants, and the tattoo on his arm. His son's hands were tied behind his back, but he appeared unharmed.
Shem Tov: A friend of his sent us a video of Omar in the car. I don't know where they lead. And it was hell. I was surprised when I saw him like that, and I don't know where he is. I don't know what they do. And I have nothing to do.
ESTRIN: The Israeli army says it's not the time to find out how this incident happened on the tightly controlled border. A retired general was assigned to coordinate efforts to free the hostages. Army officials visit Shelly Shem Tov to inform her that her son is in Gaza. They didn't say anything else. I spoke with several other parents whose children have participated in this event. I asked them what Israel should do. One of the parents, Meir Zohar, pointed the finger at the government.
Meir Zohar: (speaks in Hebrew).
ESTRIN: Bibi said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders should resign. He said they should be ashamed. Here was a crazy fall. He said, like many Israelis, that Gaza must be destroyed. Another parent, Ahuva Maizel, told me she didn't want revenge.
Ahuva Maisel: Everyone has to give up - they want revenge, you know? To get revenge - on us and on them. Something has to happen. Something else has to happen between these two people. Revenge will not bring my son back.
Estrini: The massacre of the party affected Bono.
(Audio from archive)
Bono: Those cute kids at the music festival.
Estrin: This weekend, he released the song "Crenaria" with new lyrics reminiscent of his "Star of David" poetry.
(Audio from archive)
Bono: Stars of David, they took your life, but they couldn't take your pride. (Sings) I can't stand your pride, I can't stand your pride,…
Estrin: Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Beersheba, Israel. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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