More than 30,000 Israelis danced at an emotional concert in Tel Aviv last week in memory of the victims slaughtered at the Nova Music Festival on October 7.

Under the banner of “We Will Dance Again”, leading Israeli acts took the stage at Hayarkon Park for the Nova Healing Concert, the first organised by the group since the Hamas massacre.

More than 360 revellers were murdered at the festival in southern Israel when terrorists from Gaza broke across the border and went on the rampage.

Nimrod Arnoni, a Nova founder, told the crowd, “The Nova is a magical place where time stands still. On that Saturday in early October, our light stood at a test. A test that in our worst nightmares we did not think we would have to go through, the ultimate darkness challenged the great light of the Nova tribe.”

Vowing “We will dance again,” he said, “They can hurt us, but they can never beat us. We were stronger than them, and it will remain so.”

After this emotional address, the crowd stood still in a minute’s silence for the victims.

Several bereaved mothers joined the singer Zehava Ben to perform the song in Hebrew, My Life.

Iris Ben Lulu, who lost her 25 year-old son Orel Abuhatzira, who was managing the bar at the festival, said: “Since October 7, everything burst out and I feel there are no limits, no barriers and everything is free, and I am allowed to express myself and the pain. It’s very exciting that they gave us the right and the platform. I’m sure out children are proud.”

Moran Stela Yanai, who was kidnapped on October 7 and released in an exchange in November, said: “I’m here to take you with me to this moment, let’s do something big with all your powerful energy. With all the love. Let’s show everyone that we have a common, united goal.”