Several days after the horrific massacre at the NOVA Music Festival in southern Israel, where Hamas terrorists murdered approximately 260 revelers, some of the musicians who participated—some of whom traveled especially from abroad—are processing the tragedy and the trauma experienced.
More stories:
"I'm still trying to understand what happened at the Universo Paralello Festival in Israel," wrote one of the members of German trance group Protonica on Instagram. "It's surreal, unreal and I'm shocked and devastated. I was so lucky that I didn't go there and returned home safely (I was supposed to play there in the afternoon so I stayed in Tel Aviv. The massacre happened in the morning at sunrise). My thoughts are with all participants and their families and friends."
Others, including Israeli trance group Astral Projection, sought to use their platform to call for unequivocal support for Israel.
"An important message for the whole world!!" the group opened its Instagram post. "A joyful desert music festival turned last Saturday into a heart-wrenching battle for survival when Palestinian terrorists infiltrated Israel and brutally murdered 260 of young individuals who simply sought peace and the joy of good music.
"These beautiful souls will forever remain young, leaving behind thousands of grieving family members and friends. It is a time of profound sadness and uncertainty for Israel but we stand united in condemning the terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and call upon the international community to express clear support for Israel’s right to defend itself."
Japanese DJ Spectra Sonics, who was supposed to perform at the festival on the morning of the attack, informed his followers on social media that he was back safely in a hotel in Tel Aviv and shared the story of his escape from the carnage.
"We are ran [sic] to a gas station by car. [M]any people were shot… then we are ran [sic] to the evacuation site but Very close to Gaza place.. almost stay in 12 hours. After the terrorists were gone, we are fled [sic] to [Tel Aviv]. [V]ery very scary of terrorists, missiles, and rockets… [I] had a very sad experience and I wanted to learn more about the history of Israel."
"The testimony of my savior Noa!" wrote Hungarian DJ Wegha, who seemingly was rescued from the site thanks to one of the party organizers, Noa Beer. He shared a video from the party that subsequently switches to several horrifying images from the beginning of the attack on festival attendees, and also attached Be'er’s chilling testimony. "My condolences to all the families and friends; a part of my soul will remain there forever."
Israeli DJ and producer Yoni Dagan, who performs under the name LiBra and was scheduled to perform later that day, posted an image that appears to compare a photo of what seems to be a kidnapped Israeli child with an iconic image from the Holocaust of a Jewish boy raising his hands.
Israeli musician Lee Chizmario, who performs under the name NoFace and performed the night before the terrorist attack, shared in a story: "Every day that passes since that day, I hear about another friend or another face I will no longer see. In the last five or six years, they were the people closest to me. Waking up every day and discovering that another one has left this world is unbearable. I send my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. In times like these, it's important to talk and express what you feel, to honor life, and not take it for granted."