Nova Festival Security Chief Received Warning Before Oct. 7 Hamas Attack

Elkana Federman, the former head of security for the Nova music festival, revealed that he received an audio recording containing a warning about potential unrest approximately one week before the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The recording, sent on September 26, 2023, was from a soldier in the Gaza Division who reported hearing from his division commander about possible disturbances in Gaza during the Sukkot holiday. The soldier, stationed near the festival site in the Beer'i area, sent the recording to Federman to alert festival staff.

Federman stated that he passed the warning to his superiors, who assured him the situation was under control. He believes the information might have been checked with the military but admitted he did not grasp the potential scale of an attack, considering the scenario of October 7 unexpected. Federman also criticized the Israeli authorities' prior approach, suggesting an overreliance on controlling Gaza and maintaining a false sense of calm, likening it to "Gaza Disneyland."

According to Federman, soldiers near the border noticed unusual Hamas activity and preparations, but these observations were reportedly not given sufficient attention. He clarified that the recording did not indicate precise knowledge of the planned attack but rather reflected soldiers' concerns about unusual developments.

As a civilian responsible for festival security, Federman lacked the authority to make military decisions and could only relay information. He stated that if he had understood the warning to be about a large-scale attack, he would have immediately contacted Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir to halt the event and prevent casualties. Federman, like many Israelis, realized the gravity of the situation only on the morning of October 7, when the rocket barrage from Gaza began around 6:29 AM.