The site where Hamas killed 364 people turns into a pilgrimage center

2024-09-01 17:39:41, Kosova & Bota CNA

As the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war approaches, the site where the Nova festival was held has turned into a pilgrimage center. In this country, Hamas killed 364 young people and took 44 hostages. VOA reporters Linda Gradstein and Ricki Rosen were at the site of the Nova festival and spoke with many Israeli and foreign visitors to what has now become a pilgrimage center.

Kobi Itach is visiting the site of the Nova festival, where his son Leil was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7. Mr. Itach and his family are building a memorial for their son as fighting continues in nearby Gaza.

Mr. Itach speaks to a group of Israeli soldiers about his son and the more than 360 other victims of the Hamas attack.

"We hear the voice coming from the ground. Every Jew in the world, even non-Jews, should come to this country to see what Israel has experienced, what these children faced. They came to dance and were killed here. It should be a place of pilgrimage for everyone," says Kobi Itach.

The Voice of America spoke with Mr. Thomas Serfaty, who went to the scene with a group from France.

"I wanted to see things with my own eyes so that I can be prepared when I talk to some people in France. Because both in America and in France we have some people who doubt what happened, the horrors of what happened here."

Among the visitors is the deputy speaker of the Israeli parliament, Nissim Vaturi, with a delegation from the ruling Likud party.

"We came to see those faces and to support the south of Israel. This is the reason we are fighting in Gaza," the deputy speaker of the Israeli parliament told VOA.

Michael Sabbag is writing a quote from the Old Testament, in memory of a soldier killed at the Nova festival. It invites visitors of all faiths to be blessed by supporting scripture quotes.

"It's amazing when you see Jews from France, Great Britain, America and all over the world come here and shed tears for people they didn't know. This is the greatness of the Jewish people, who feel each other's pain".

Tzipora Waternov moved to Israel from Chicago ten years ago. She traveled more than three hours to visit this place.