Chabad Jewish Center shares survivor stories about Hamas attack on Israel
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – A survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack came to Texas to share her story.
Neta Abir Lev was in College Station Wednesday for an event hosted by the Chabad Jewish Student Center.
On Oct. 7, she was at the Nova music festival in southern Israel near the Gaza Border. Over 3,000 young people had come together for the festivities. It was supposed to be an all-night dance party, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Saturday morning, as dawn broke and the headliner DJ took the stage, Hamas fired rockets across the border. Some didn’t notice the sounds over the electronic music, others were accustomed to rocket fire and thought little of it. However, not long after, the music stopped and chaos erupted. The festival was one of multiple locations hit that morning by Hamas militants. It’s believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history.
About 260 people were killed, including Abir Lev’s cousin and friend. Another one of her friends was taken hostage.
Abir Lev has been traveling to colleges across the state giving her first-hand account of what happened. She says she thinks her story resonates with people because they see themselves in her.
“Look at me, I’m a normal kid, I’m 23. I travel the world, I go to school and it happened to me, so it could happen to anyone,” said Abir Lev.
She explained that for a long time after the attack, she felt like there was nothing she could do, however by sharing her story, she feels like she is able to help her country.