260 dead at Hamas music festival: Israeli survivors share recounts horror, ‘worst place you could possibly’

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AP reported. Among them, Maya Alper stood at the rear of the bar alongside environmentally conscious volunteers. They diligently cleaned up trash and handed out complimentary vodka shots to those who reused their cups.

Then, shortly after 6 a.m., as the light-blue dawn began to break and the headline DJ took the stage, the tranquillity was shattered by air raid sirens piercing through the ethereal trap music, and rockets streaked across the sky. Also Read:Israel-Palestine War News LIVE Updates: Dozens of foreigners killed and abducted, over 30 still missing in Hamas attack At 25 years old, Alper swiftly entered her car and sped towards the main road. However, as she reached the intersection, she was met with distressed festival-goers.

They were urgently imploring drivers to reverse their course, their faces reflecting shock and fear, AP noted. Then, a noise. Firecrackers? Panicked men and women staggering down the road just in front of her fell to the ground in pools of blood.

Gunshots. The assault that occurred during Saturday's open-air Tribe of Nova music festival is now regarded as the most devastating civilian tragedy in Israeli history. It has left a staggering death toll of at least 260 people, and an unknown number of festival-goers have been taken hostage in the aftermath.