Survivors of an Israeli music festival terrorist attack by Hamas shared their harrowing experiences in South Florida. Shye K. Weinstein, Kapah Dor, and Or Elmakias were invited to speak at the University of Miami as part of the Seed the Dream Foundation’s “Survive to Tell” tour.
During their presentation, Weinstein recounted the chaos and fear that engulfed him and his friends as they heard gunfire and screaming before escaping for their lives. The attack occurred on Oct. 7 at the Supernova Socket Gathering in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 364 deaths, 40 hostages, and many injuries.
Elmakias reflected on the joyful atmosphere of the festival before it turned into a nightmare. Dor, an IDF soldier, managed to save seven people but lost everything in the process. Elmakias was shot in the leg and had to limp through fields to survive. Weinstein, a photographer, documented the horror of the attack and the aftermath. Forty-four people remain missing after being taken by Hamas.
The survivors’ harrowing experiences shed light on the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent people’s lives. Their stories serve as a reminder that we must continue to work towards peace and security for all individuals regardless of their background or location.
