• Wion
  • /Middle East
  • /'There were THOUSANDS...': Israeli survivor recounts terror at music festival to WION - Middle East News

'There were THOUSANDS...': Israeli survivor recounts terror at music festival to WION

'There were THOUSANDS...': Israeli survivor recounts terror at music festival to WION

Guy escaped with his friends and managed to stay hidden from the militants

WION interviewed Guy Danon, a survivor of the Israeli Desert Rave attack. He shared that the entire incident took place merely 3-4 kilometres away from the border and fence itself, with more than 3,000 people at music festival venue.

Guy is an electrical engineer who went to celebrate his 27th birthday with his friends.

The attack began in the early hours of October 7, with scores of militants descending on the rave grounds in a well-organised attack, with heavy ammunition and AK47s, firing away and capturing the rave-goers.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"Even when we went there, we heard of a terrorist breach. I thought it would be 3 or 4, maybe what? 10? But there were THOUSANDS. It was clear that it was very well-organised," he said. The videos and images of the attack do not do justice at all to the chaos that ensued, he added.

There were police at the party but they did not seem to be armed, and they were not as armed well enough to deal with the attack. "No one thought at all that this could happen. They're truly monsters," he added.

Also Read |Gaza student speaks to WION: People walking 30km to escape Israel attack, many camping at hospital

As soon as they saw the chaos, they ran immediately into their car, however, quickly realised that those who tried to escape in cars were getting shot first and people escaping in them were not surviving.

They got out of the cars and "ran into the woods away from the crowd so that we would draw less attraction, going opposite of the chaos." As they ran, Guy even told his friend, "I love you", in case they wouldn't survive the attack.

Also Read |'Willing to fight for Israel', expat Indian tells WION, recounts alarm after suspected 'aerial assault'

Guy escaped with threeof his friends, and managed to stay hidden from the militants for nearly 8.5 hours under bushes. Between the four friends, there was only onebottle of water, said Guy, and "they were lucky to even have that."

While hiding, several members of the militant group passed them and they could hear the Hamas laughing and joking, clearly enjoying themselves.

Watch |Israel-Palestine war: Israel asks 1.1 mn civilians to leave Gaza; UN warns of ‘consequences’

With very little battery left, he texted his sister for help.

WhatsApp was not working and they "did not dare to call", only asking for help via SMS.

His sister managed to contact someone to send them for their rescue. Just as their battery was about to go out, around 4:30 their rescuer, Oz Davidian, risked his life to come and save them.

Guy believes that it was a miracle that they even got out and were rescued even as the attack continued.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

×