Hamas Attack On Israeli Techno Festival Leaves At Least 260 Dead And Many Missing
SASHA PFEIFFER, host.
This is the fourth day of the war in the Middle East. Israelis were evacuated from areas infiltrated by Hamas this weekend as heavy rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip continued. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have forced some 200,000 Palestinians to flee their homes to seek refuge. Authorities reported 1,000 deaths in Israel and more than 900 in Gaza. Amid all these developments, the events of this weekend continue to shock Israelis. The techno music festival was the scene 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 Universo Parallelo Festival, Parallel Universe Festival...
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ESTRIN: ...the outdoor trance music festival is touted as "the essence of unity and love in a fun place." It is located just a few kilometers from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
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ESTRIN: This TikTok video shows dancers in T-shirts and hoodies dancing under a festival tent when something strange starts falling from the sky. Hamas fighters fly out of the Gaza Strip by paraglider. They also moved the border by truck.
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ESTRIN: Other videos show crowds of Israelis running through dusty fields on foot and in cars. At the hospital I met a survivor, Roy Shalev.
RO SHALEV: (speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He says they had 50 guns surrounded by five trucks when they fled. He and the girl hid under a truck. The militants found them and shot them. He didn't know if his girlfriend would survive. Today, three days after the attack, I met him again.
SHALEV: (Speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: He says he and their friends didn't survive. He said I was left alone to tell their story.
SHALEV: (Speaking Hebrew).
ESTRIN: Israeli emergency services said at least 260 bodies of Israeli citizens were recovered during the festival. Several Israeli citizens were taken to Gaza as prisoners. Shelley Shem Tov's 21-year-old son, Omer, sent her his location to track the phone.
SHELLY SHAM TOWING. We see Omer enter Gaza and then don't see him again. Nothing from him.
ESTRIN: Before Hamas released the video. His face was blurry, but she recognized his yellow shirt, patterned pants, and the tattoo on his arm. The boy's hands were tied behind his back, but he was not injured.
SHAM TOV: His friend sent us a video of Omer's car. They were taken to an unknown place. 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're doing with it. And I have nothing to do.
ESTRIN: The Israeli army says now is not the time to talk about how this disaster could have happened on the border, which means they are on high alert. A retired general has been appointed to coordinate efforts to free the hostages. Army representatives visited Sheli Shem Tau to inform him that his 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. This is an unfortunate failure. He, like most Israelis, says Gaza must be destroyed. Another mother, Ahuva Maisel, told me she didn't want revenge.
AHUVA MAISEL: They all need to go, they want revenge, you know? Revenge for us and for them. Something has to happen. Something else needs to happen between these two people. Revenge will not bring my daughter back.
ESTRIN: The concert massacre also affected Bono.
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BONO: Cute kids at a music festival.
ESTRIN: This weekend he performed "Pride" with new lyrics in honor of the Star of David.
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BONO - Star of David, they took your life, they can't take your honor. (Singing) I can't be proud, I can't be proud, I can't be proud...
ESTRIN: Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Be'er Sheva, Israel. NPR Transcript, Copyright NPR.
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