Nova: the day humanity died
Whatever your politics, the people of Nova were victims. The refusal of so many to acknowledge that laid their hypocrisy bare
I remember where I was and what I was doing when my husband told me about the terrorist attack taking place in Israel.
I remember the days and months afterwards, desperately holding out hope for more survivors and the release of hostages, trying to tell their stories. I remember not being able to sleep.
But I wasn’t there. Hadar Sharvit was. She survived the Nova festival, and I had the privilege to hear her speak this week thanks to the Nova Exhibition and JWA.
I recommend people visit the exhibition. It is stressful and deeply traumatic to bear witness, however it is important one does if they can.
Nova was nothing short of a massacre. Hamas ensured that.
The founders and people who attended Nova were just like us (ok, cooler than me). They wanted to have fun, dance with their friends, enjoy music. It was about love and happiness, not darkness and death.
I took pictures at the exhibition, not of the terror, but of the things left behind. Everyday items, of those murdered.
There were backgammon sets, tents, an overnight bag, toothpaste, towels, camping chairs, bottles. Never to be retrieved or used again.
Regular people, with ordinary items, but the significance so much more.
They didn’t deserve to die, they didn’t deserve the terror, nor did they deserve the violence.
Life has now been split pre 7 October 2023, and post October 2023. A lot has happened since but it’s important we take a step back. A step back to 7 October and the massacre that occurred, and a step back, away from the rife antisemitism and hateful, intimidating rhetoric which now floods our present.
People have different political opinions, people have different thoughts on the war that followed, and unfortunately some people have a partisan view on who can be a victim.
Whatever your politics, the people of Nova were victims. They suffered terribly at the hands of Hamas. They suffered a major terror attack. They suffered a massacre.
One of the hardest things I am yet to comprehend is the silence of some individuals and charities on the 7 October. How organisations within the VAWG sector nationally and internationally stayed quiet, how the UN stayed silent, how politicians to this day are silent in their condemnation of the atrocities that took place.
Peace seems more far away than ever, but peace will never happen without bearing witness and acknowledging the massacre that took place on 7 October 2023. Without condemning pure evil, humanity will fail to rise up and overcome it.