Osher and Michael Waknin, two twins in their 30s, had organized parties all over Israel to celebrate friendship, love, and freedom. They were known to be happy kids, according to their sister. However, their most recent party turned into a horrific tragedy when it was targeted by Hamas gunmen in the worst attack on Israel in its history. Nevertheless, before the unimaginable terror began, the festival had started as a huge success.
Over the weekend, around 3,500 electronic music fans, both from Israel and abroad, gathered at the Supernova event, just five kilometers from the Gaza border. The festival included three stages, DJs from around the world, a camping area, and bars to cater to the partygoers. Everything was set for a weekend of dancing in the Negev desert.
But at around 6:30 am on October 7th, the music abruptly stopped. In the distance, unusual noises could be heard, signaling that something was wrong. The loudspeaker warned everyone to regroup, as sparks lit up the sky followed by rockets being intercepted. These were the initial signs of the horror that was about to unfold.
Ephraim Mordechayev, a young soldier who had come to celebrate the weekend, initially didn’t fully understand the gravity of the situation. He recalls feeling panicked but also calm since rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip were not uncommon. However, as he and his friends started to leave, they soon realized that something much larger and deadlier was happening around them. Gunmen were among the crowd, attacking from foot, motorcycle, or even the air with automatic gunfire.
“There is someone that is 20, 10 meters from you with guns and trying to kill you,” Mordechayev said, describing the terrifying situation. The attackers indiscriminately killed anyone they came across, overwhelming the security guards and police present at the scene.
As chaos ensued, people scrambled to find safety. Some ran towards the fields surrounding the site, while others hurried to reach their vehicles in the festival’s car parks. However, a traffic jam quickly formed, and Mordechayev witnessed the windows of cars behind him shattered and three corpses inside. Forced to make a quick decision, he chose to run for his life across the fields.
The only escape route from suffering and death was Route 232, a road that runs parallel to the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. However, it wasn’t much safer. Gunmen positioned behind embankments along the road opened fire on passing vehicles, causing panic and forcing some festival-goers to abandon their cars and run across barren fields with little cover.
Even in the midst of the carnage, some managed to hide, looking for any possible means of survival. Hours passed as the crackle of automatic weapons drew closer. Eventually, Hamas gunmen captured hostages, leading them away from the scene while others continued their relentless killing spree.
In the aftermath, the Israeli army arrived to discover a scene of mass destruction. About 270 people had been killed, and burnt-out vehicles filled the road leading to the festival site. Sleeping bags, mattresses, shoes, and coolers were strewn across the ground, hastily abandoned. The rescue workers uncovered bodies in each car, some burnt along with the vehicles.
Days later, families mourned the dead and searched for their missing loved ones. Dozens were believed to have been kidnapped and taken as hostages to Gaza. The anguish of not knowing the fate of their loved ones only added to the helplessness experienced by the families.
As investigations continue, survivors and witnesses tell their stories. Osher Waknin, one of the twin organizers of the party, was seen getting out of his car to rescue people amidst the chaos. Sadly, he didn’t survive the attack. His sister hopes that her other brother, Michael, is still alive, but there has been no contact since the massacre.
The tragedy has left a scar on Israel’s history, reminding the world of the ongoing conflict and the fragility of peace in the region.