Nova Festival Security Chief Sues Ex-Shin Bet Head Over Oct. 7 Failures

Elkana Federman, the former head of security for the Nova music festival who was injured during the October 7 Hamas attack, has filed a NIS 2.5 million lawsuit against former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The lawsuit, filed in Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, alleges that Bar was negligent in the hours leading up to the attack, failing to fully share intelligence that could have led to the festival's evacuation.

Federman's suit claims that Shin Bet received multiple unusual signals the night before the attack, including the activation of hundreds of Israeli SIM cards apparently prepared for Hamas operatives, suspicious movements by senior Hamas members, and changes in communication patterns. An agent source also reportedly informed Shin Bet of Hamas activists gathering in mosques, information that allegedly reached Bar but was not presented at a situation assessment meeting around 3 a.m. at the Southern Command, according to the lawsuit.

Federman argues this intelligence was a "game-changer" that could have altered the interpretation of other signals. He also points to Bar's decision to deploy the Shin Bet "Techelet" unit southward, suggesting Bar anticipated a potential terror incursion. The suit contends that Bar's failure to provide a "full report" to the Southern Command meant the army was unprepared, and the Nova festival would have been treated differently.

Federman further alleges that Bar should have directly warned the police responsible for the festival's security about the potential for terrorist infiltration or kidnappings, but "through his negligence, he did not lift a finger to protect the festival attendees, including the plaintiff." During the attack, Federman and his security team evacuated thousands of visitors. When terrorists reached the festival's exit area, Federman and other guards attempted to evacuate the wounded. Federman then engaged terrorists with a police officer, Andrei Pushibai, who was killed, and a soldier, Ofir Testa, who was severely wounded and later died. Federman was shot in the buttocks during the exchange and, after Pushibai was killed, took his pistol and continued to advance before retreating and hiding for several hours until rescued.

Federman, who underwent two surgeries at Soroka and Shaare Zedek hospitals, claims his injuries could have been avoided had proper warnings been issued, leading to an earlier evacuation. He is seeking compensation for physical and psychological damages, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.