Survivors of the October 7 attack at the Nova music festival in southern Israel have shared detailed accounts of the deadly assault that left at least eight people dead inside a single location on the festival grounds. The harrowing testimonies provide a glimpse into the chaos, terror, and moments of courage experienced during the massacre.
Among those caught in the violence was 25-year-old Naama Gal, who found herself trapped in a yellow dumpster used as an impromptu refuge along with a dozen other attendees. As the attack unfolded, Gal recounted how gunmen arrived on the site, firing rockets and opening fire on festivalgoers. Fleeing the open areas, she was pushed by a fellow partygoer into the dumpster where others had already taken cover earlier that morning under the guidance of a security guard.
Inside the container, those hiding heard the sounds of rockets, bombs, and gunfire close by, punctuated by cries of pain and repeated shouts of "Allahu Akbar." The group included newly engaged couple Maya Bitton, 22, and Eliran Mizrahi, 23, as well as Yiftach Dan Twig, 27, who was the last to enter the enclosure. Over the course of more than three hours, the individuals inside remained concealed, trying to maintain quiet while clinging to hope for survival. Many suffered extreme fear, with some reportedly so frightened they lost control of bodily functions.
The quiet was shattered when a young gunman, described as wearing civilian clothes and flip-flops, discovered the dumpster. In an act of bravery, Yiftach Dan Twig pushed a young woman, Amit Levy, behind him, shielding her and others from the attacker’s gunfire. Twig was killed instantly, but his body mitigated the impact of bullets that wounded other survivors including Levy’s twin sister, Shani, and Lior Solimani, 23. Naama Gal herself sustained four gunshot wounds to her legs and shoulder. The shooter killed eight people inside the container, including a man Gal recognized from travels abroad.
After the gunman left, Gal played dead, covering herself with rubbish and waiting until she was rescued by festival organizers Yagil Rimoni and Rom Braslavski. Despite severe injuries, she managed to phone her mother but feared she would not survive. Medical personnel quickly applied tourniquets to her legs at a makeshift aid station before transporting her to a hospital. She regained consciousness two days later and continues to grapple with psychological trauma stemming from the attack.
Families of victims have struggled to come to terms with the losses. Michal Bitton, mother of Maya Bitton, initially refused to accept news of her daughter's death and endured ongoing anguish after losing her only child and future son-in-law. Similarly, Yiftach Dan Twig’s family found some solace in his selfless act during the attack, viewing his sacrifice as a powerful final gesture of protection. Twig’s sister, Keren, has been instrumental in preserving the memory of the event by campaigning to retain the yellow dumpster as part of a memorial at Re’im, the kibbutz near the festival grounds where the massacre occurred.
The Nova festival attack remains one of the deadliest in recent Israeli history, underscoring the devastating impact of the assault on civilians and the resilience of those who survived under unimaginable conditions.