Nova/Supernova Music Festival Massacre — 364 Killed

The Supernova Sukkot Gathering (Nova music festival), a trance music event held in an open field near Kibbutz Re'im (highway 232, ~5 km from the Gaza fence), became the site of the deadliest single-site massacre of the attack. Approximately 3,500 young Israelis and foreign nationals were attending when rockets began at 6:29 AM. Hamas fighters arrived by paraglider and vehicle within minutes, beginning a systematic massacre. Attendees fled in cars along Route 232 — Hamas fighters opened fire on fleeing vehicles. Some hid in bomb shelters near the festival grounds, where they were killed or taken hostage. 364 people were killed at the festival; approximately 40 were taken hostage. The youngest victims were teenagers. GoPro camera footage recorded by Hamas fighters showed the massacre in graphic detail.