Tal Ben-Dror was one of the thousands of people who gathered in a vast field near the Gaza border in southern Israel to enjoy a music festival. The atmosphere was filled with music, dance, and an air of festivity, fueled by alcohol, as the overnight celebration continued. However, the tranquility of the event was shattered at around 6:40 a.m. when a nightmare unfolded before their eyes.
Tal Ben-Dror shared her experience, saying, "There were approximately 3,000-4,000 people at the party. I came with around 15 friends, and we arrived at 2 am. The rocket attack started around 6:40 am," recounting the horrifying moment when the attack took place.
Like many other Israelis, Tal and her fellow partygoers had faith in the Iron Dome, a defense system designed to intercept incoming missiles. The Iron Dome had intercepted over 5,000 rockets launched from Gaza, but Hamas had planned ground attacks as well.
Reflecting on the moment when the rocket attack occurred, she said, "The security personnel signaled and shouted, and then they stopped the music and told us, 'Guys, take your belongings and go home, just leave.'"
However, their initial response was relatively calm. They assumed that there were only rocket attacks and that they would return home safely. Tal Ben-Dror continued, "We called the driver of the minibus in which we had arrived. I had friends who had come separately in cars, and I did not yet comprehend the gravity of the situation. I sent audio messages... and now I can hear the sounds of gunfire in the background of those audio messages. At that time, I was unaware of the shootings."
They waited in the minibus, hesitating to join the chaotic traffic, as many people were driving under the influence of alcohol. Her decision to wait, even for just 10-15 minutes, turned out to be life-saving. As she explained, "The decision essentially saved our lives."
At that point, they were still unaware that Hamas terrorists had infiltrated Israel. Tal Ben-Dror recalled, "But then, when we were sitting in the minibus, someone started shouting, 'Terrorists are coming, run for your lives.'"
Their reaction was swift. They ran, unintentionally splitting into smaller groups. Five of them ran, while two friends found shelter in a nearby car due to difficulties in running. Three of them were still on the move when a person in their group was shot twice in the leg right in front of them.
In the midst of the chaos, they took cover, hiding behind bushes and trees, running for safety as the sound of gunfire echoed dangerously close to them. Tal Ben-Dror recounted these terrifying moments as she walked through the sequence of events that unfolded on that fateful day.
The music festival had been organized in a field outside Kibbutz Re’im, situated approximately 5.3 kilometers from the wall that separates Gaza from southern Israel.
Tal Ben-Dror, who had served in the Army at a base just five minutes from the party location, found it difficult to comprehend how the attack had taken place. She emphasized that the party had been authorized by the IDF and the police, and had it not been, she would not have attended. However, the arrival of terrorists who engaged in acts of violence, including shootings, kidnappings, and other crimes, was something she considered beyond an accident. In her words, "Something more serious is happening here."
She appealed to the Israeli government to take swift action in locating the missing individuals. One of their friends had stayed behind, and they had received no information regarding her safety or whereabouts since the events that transpired on that tragic Saturday. Overwhelmed with emotion, Tal Ben-Dror expressed her anguish, saying, "Our friend stayed there, and we have no answer whether she has been murdered, kidnapped, or has been in hiding since Saturday. We have no answer," as tears streamed down her face.
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