Approximately 260 people have been killed at Supernova Festival near the Gaza-Israel border

This year's festival coincided with Sukkot – the week-long Jewish holiday that celebrates the gathering of the harvest. It is said to be one of the most joyful festivals in Judaism, bringing families, friends and communities together.

The music festival had been billed as “a journey of unity and love” with “mindblowing and breathtaking content”. Reports say that the festival started around 10pm on Friday (6 October), just hours after the end of Israel’s week-long Sukkot religious festival. The event mostly consists of alternative electric and trance music, it also promotes values such as "love each other".

Around the time of sunrise on Saturday morning, Palestinian militants stormed the festival. Video footage shows several black dots in the distance which appeared to be heading towards the festival site. As the dots came closer, people began to notice that they were motorised para gliders approaching from the direction of Gaza in the west. Eventually a siren went off, encouraging festival-goers to find refuge. It is reported that some attendees tried to raise the alarm while others remained oblivious.

Speaking to The Guardian, one witness Ortel said: “Suddenly out of nowhere they [militants] come inside with gunfire, opening fire in every direction. Fifty terrorists arrived in vans, dressed in military uniforms.” Whilst some people ran to their cars to escape, Ortel notes that the cars were also targeted: “They fired bursts, and we reached a point where everyone stopped their vehicles and started running.” Ortel said she hid in a bush as “they just started spraying people. I saw masses of wounded people thrown around and I’m trying to understand what’s going on ."

Aftermath of Hamas' shooting massacre at the Supernova music festival in Israel. pic.twitter.com/5d9tfvkLnZ

— Jane Public (@JanePublic55) October 9, 2023

The attack on the music festival is reported by ITV to be part of the larger assault on Israel by Hamas fighters who blew through a fortified border fence in an unprecedented surprise attack that began Saturday.

Alongside the attack, footage shows some festival attendees being taken hostage and marched away by Palestinian militants. One clip shows a distraught young woman being driven on a motorcycle between two militants, pleading with her arms outstretched. Nearby a young man is marched away by gunmen. The pair have been identified as Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or.

Friends and relatives have seen the footage and shared statements on the ordeal, with Moshe Or saying: “I was worried and tried to call them, but his phone was not available and neither was hers. After a few hours, emergency services contacted us and told us that they saw a video of my brother and his girlfriend, Noa, taken hostage toward the Strip."

In a statement posted to their social media pages, the organisers of Supernova Festival expressed their sorrow for the catastrophic events. "We are full of hope and pray that good news will reach us and you soon. In moments like these, it is important that we are strong and united, full of faith, support each other and be there for anyone who needs it. Embracing everyone, Nova tribe," they wrote.