May Hayat, a survivor of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel, has brought her harrowing story to London. Speaking at the Nova Exhibition, she described being captured by eight armed terrorists, witnessing the murder of her friend Avi Dadon, and ultimately being released after her captors noticed a childhood scar. The exhibition, which has toured 10 cities worldwide, aims to educate the public about the atrocities that killed 413 people and led to 44 hostages.
Escape and Capture
Hayat, now 32, was working as a bartender at the festival with her best friend Liron Barda when Hamas launched a rocket barrage at 6:30 am on October 7. As militants breached the border fence and arrived via paragliders, festivalgoers scrambled to flee. Hayat initially hid in a police command post with 50 others, but a police officer urged them to run for their lives. She then sought refuge in an ambulance in an open field, but a gut feeling told her it was a 'death trap.' Moments after she left, Hamas fighters fired an RPG at the vehicle, killing 18 people.
Hayat met fellow partygoer Avi Dadon, and they were picked up by another man driving across fields. Under fire, they made a U-turn and hid in a hole in the ground for 15 minutes before being dragged out by Hamas fighters. 'When I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by eight terrorists in civilian clothes, with knives, hammers and wooden bats. One of them was a 14-year-old child,' Hayat recalled. The terrorists pulled out Dadon, who begged for his life and offered money. 'When I saw their reaction, I realised that is what they were looking for. They wanted us to be afraid. So I told myself I had to be strong,' she said.
Murder and Release
As the group walked for two hours, they stumbled upon the bodies of two dead women. There, Hayat saw three terrorists grab Dadon's hands while one stabbed his neck, killing him instantly. She was dragged further toward Gaza, but the terrorists' plan unraveled when their car failed to start. Hayat talked with the ringleader all the way back to the festival grounds, where he eventually let her go. She attributes her release to a childhood scar on her arm, covered by a tattoo, which she once hated. 'According to their beliefs, a scar like this means a strong woman. If something happened to her because of them, the 72 virgins they are promised will not come looking for them in heaven,' she claimed.
Hayat hid under a stage until rescued by the Israeli army. Her friend Liron Barda was among the 378 people massacred at the festival, with another 44 taken hostage.
Exhibition in London
The Nova Exhibition in London, visited by Sadiq Khan and the Archbishop of Canterbury, features burned-out cars, shot-through toilet cubicles, and a table of shoes from those who fled. It was extended due to high demand and closed on July 15, 2026. Hayat believes it is crucial for Brits to hear her story. 'London is the place where most visitors did not know what happened to us. We need to commemorate this day and our friends, who cannot share their stories,' she told Metro.
Ofir Amir, 42, a co-founder of the Nova festival who was shot in both legs during the attack, now organizes the exhibition. 'Our lives changed on October 7th. We do not feel responsibility for what happened but we felt we had to do something so no one will deal with this trauma alone,' he said. Amir opened a healing center a week after the attack and later created the memorial exhibition, which has toured for two and a half years. 'There is so much hate and denial on social media. We can show the world what happened to us and educate,' he added.
Rising Antisemitism
London has seen a spike in antisemitic attacks, including a stabbing in Golders Green in April 2026. Hayat acknowledged the situation but said, 'We are people of light. Light always beats darkness. That is why we are here and I am not afraid of them.' Amir echoed this, noting warnings about danger in the UK but insisting the message is universal: 'The message is not about a country or religion or about taking sides, it is about what happened at a music festival. People need to see what happens when you feel the hate and when you don't fight antisemitism.'
