Survivor of Hamas attack escaped death by playing dead, returned to identify the bodies of her murdered friends

JOURNALIST’S NOTES

INTERVIEW SUBJECT

Mazal Tazazo, 34, a tattoo artist from Israel, is a survivor of the Supernova Music Festival massacre. Tazazo was one of many attendees at the overnight music festival in Re’im, along with three friends. In a surprise attack by Hamas on the morning of October 7, 2023, Tazazo was the only one among her group to survive, as her three friends were tragically killed by the terrorists. To stay alive, Tazazo endured more than eight hours of terror, including five hours where she pretended to be dead, before being rescued by IDF soldiers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Reports suggest that more than 3,000 people attended the Supernova Music Festival, a gathering of mostly individuals under 30. The festival, held in a remote part of southern Israel, promised a blend of dance, music, art, and drinks. The organizers described the festival as a “journey of unity and love.” However, small black clouds of smoke above them began to signal imminent danger. These clouds were likely from defensive missiles launched by the Israeli military to intercept rockets fired from Gaza. In the hours that followed, Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel. At the music festival, Hamas killed at least 260 people and took captives back into Gaza.

RE’IM, Israel — On Friday evening, October 6, 2023, my friends and I arrived at the Supernova Music Festival. We stayed through the night, soaking in the beautiful and exciting atmosphere. Sipping drinks, getting high, and dancing freely, we dove into the night.

Suddenly, at 6:00 a.m., security officers ordered us to go home, claiming the party was over. We felt skeptical because the event was supposed to continue until the afternoon. As the music stopped, we saw numerous rockets launching from the Gaza Strip.

Related: Israeli woman hides in the woods for hours: being hunted by Hamas at the Supernova music festival

Friends flee in terror, facing terrorists at every turn

After three years of COVID-19 disruption, I excitedly awaited the Supernova Music Festival. For over three months, I anticipated the event. Living in a kibbutz near Re’im, close to the party sites, I was accustomed to rocket fire. So, on October 7, 2023, I enjoyed the party while rockets soared above us.

At 7:30 a.m., we headed home, convinced the police shut the music down. However, the unmistakable sound of gunshots shattered that belief. Around 9:00 a.m., everything unfolded like a scene from an unfamiliar movie. With death closing in, we swiftly gathered our belongings and jumped into the car. As people scrambled to escape, the parking lot erupted into chaos.

Determined to escape, we sped towards the main road, desperate to leave immediately. As gunfire intensified, we had no choice but to abandon the car. My friends, Daniel, Yohai, and I sprinted toward the road, searching for the police, hoping someone would save us. Instead, we ran straight into more terrorists.

Gunfire erupted around us, echoing from every direction, while screams pierced the air. Chaos overwhelmed us, leaving us disoriented, and unsure of where to find safety. Amidst the escape, we passed two armed men and a girl frantically calling for help.

After running for half an hour, we finally reached the road but quickly retreated into the bushes as terrorists advanced. The terrorists not only used guns; they also killed people with knives. Blood stained the ground as people fell, dying. Desperation surged through us as we crawled deeper into the bushes, doing everything possible to stay hidden.

After witnessing her friend’s death, woman acts dead to survive

Suddenly, the terrorists spotted us hiding in the bushes and came straight for us. Within seconds, they came upon us. They demanded, “Get up… get up…” They immediately killed two of my friends before turning their attention to the rest of us. Instinctively, I dropped to my stomach and shielded my neck with my hands.

Fortunately, my friend saved my life. As I lay down, the terrorists hit her in the head. Tragically, her blood splattered onto me. Then, a sharp blow hit my head, and I instantly lost consciousness. When I came to, I lay there, aware I was still breathing but unsure if my head, neck, or fingers were intact. Unable to move, I remained frozen in fear.

Repeatedly, they struck me with their guns, treating me like nothing more than an animal. With each blow, they checked for life. Nevertheless, I remained still, refusing to react even as blood flowed and pain surged through my body. For the next hour, more terrorists came and kicked me in the legs and stomach to test my breathing.

Standing near to me, they spoke to each other in Arabic. One of them lifted my hand and let it fall to the ground, as I remained motionless. They pulled at my legs, dragging me across the dirt, still uncertain if I died. Covered in blood, I appeared lifeless to them. Eventually, they left, convinced I lay among the dead.

Survivors endure horrific hours, hiding in abandoned car

Once they left, I felt weak and barely conscious. After two hours, I managed to wake up enough to call my friend Daniel, but she did not answer. Standing up, I found my friend dead beside me. Witnessing her lifeless body, along with the others who were laughing and dancing just hours earlier, broke me. Fearful that the terrorists remained nearby, I laid back down. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed desperately for it to end. I pleaded with God to let me survive and return home.

After lying motionless on the ground for half an hour, I felt someone approach and check my body. Terror gripped me; I never felt so scared. I feared for my life and worried terrorists might rape me. However, the person moved to my legs and stayed there. For the next half hour, they lay on my feet. Once I realized it was not a terrorist but another person hiding, I got up. I spotted a 20-year-old girl. She stared at me in shock and asked for my phone, explaining that her battery died. Hurriedly, she sent our location to some people, hoping for rescue.

The gunshots stopped, but we knew terrorists remained nearby. Looking around, I saw fire as the terrorists burned the bushes. Horrified, we crawled along the road and found an abandoned car. I managed to get inside, despite my cut fingers and the bleeding. While I hid in the back seat, covering myself with a blanket, the girl hid in the front seat, lying on the floor. In despair, I called my family and the police, pleading for their help. For two hours, we remained hidden in the car.

Woman suffers lifelong injuries, clings to hope for peace

After two horrific hours, a girl who resembled an angel arrived to help us. She hid in the bushes and approached the car, safe with her two friends. Being the only one in the group injured by terrorists, they took me to a secure place. Within a few hours, paramedics transported me to the hospital for treatment.

Later, the police and Israeli Defence Force soldiers brought me back to identify the bodies of my friends who I attempted to escape with. I never imagined going back to that place, particularly to identify my friends’ lifeless bodies. I recognized all three by their accessories after terrorists burned their bodies following their murder.

Since that harrowing day, shock and trauma engulfed me. Losing my friends fills me with deep sadness, knowing I will never see them again. The knife wound I endured cost me a finger and left me with lifelong injuries to my legs. Despite the pain, I strive to stay positive and remain grateful for this second chance at life. The vivid memories of October 7 still haunt me. I hope authorities catch and eliminate all Hamas terrorists. Hoping to forget everything, I strive for life to resume as it was before the attack on Israel.