Key IDF officer raised concerns about Nova festival, but was told to approve it – report

A key Israel Defense Forces officer raised concerns and opposition to the Nova music festival, but was told to authorize it, the Haaretz daily reports.

Some 360 people were killed by Hamas terrorists at the rave on October 7, and dozens more were assaulted and taken hostage to Gaza.

According to Haaretz, the Gaza Division’s operations officer, Lt. Col. Sahar Fogel was unhappy about the event being held so close to the Strip, and his concerns were supported by other officers.

The newspaper reports that the officers’ worries apparently did not stem from fears of an incursion by terrorists, but rather the threat of rocket and mortar fire from Gaza.

There have been multiple reports that warnings of a potential attack were ignored ahead of October 7, when thousands of terrorists stormed the border, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping some 240 to Gaza.

The newspaper says it is unclear if Fogel knew of the warnings.

Despite his objections, Fogel was told to approve the Nova festival, the newspaper says. The report says there were concerns of legal difficulties if the festival were not approved.

The Eshkol Regional Council also opposed the rave, believing that it would be a public nuisance, the report says.

In response to the report, the IDF tells Haaretz: “The IDF will conduct a detailed and in-depth investigation into the matter once the operational situation allows, and will make its findings public.”