Meet Laura Malo: The survivor of the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s history
Laura Malo is a Colombian-born Israeli citizen who survived the horrific Hamas attack on the Supernova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. She was one of the thousands of young people who attended the event, which was billed as “a journey of unity and love” with “mindblowing and breathtaking content”. However, her night of fun turned into a nightmare when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack from the air, land, and sea, killing more than 260 people and taking scores of hostages. Among the survivors of this horrific massacre was Laura, a woman who hid in a greenhouse for 16 hours with no food or water, fearing for her life. This is her story.
The party that turned into a tragedy
Malo had been looking forward to the Supernova music festival, which was advertised as “a journey of unity and love” with “mindblowing and breathtaking content”. She had bought a ticket online and drove to the secret location with her friend Daniel, who was also a French-Israeli. They arrived at Kibbutz Re’im, a small farming community about 5 kilometers from the Gaza border, around midnight. They joined about 3,500 other young people who were dancing to the beats of DJs and live performers under the stars.
“It was a beautiful festival with a great vibe,” Laura Malo told Fox News. “Everyone was happy and friendly. We felt free and safe. We didn’t think about anything else.”
The party continued until dawn when Laura noticed some black dots in the sky. She thought they were fireworks at first, but then realized they were paragliders coming from Gaza. She saw them landing near the festival area and opening fire on the crowd.
“It was like a war zone,” she said. “People were screaming and running in all directions. I saw blood everywhere. I saw people falling down. I saw terrorists shooting at us with machine guns and RPGs.”
Laura and Daniel managed to get to their car, but they couldn’t drive away because of the traffic and the chaos. They saw other cars being set on fire by the militants, who were wearing military uniforms and vests with explosives. They decided to abandon their car and run for their lives.
“We ran into the fields, looking for a place to hide,” Laura said. “We saw some greenhouses and we thought maybe we could find some shelter there.”
How did she escape the terrorists?
Laura Malo and Daniel entered one of the greenhouses, which was full of tomato plants. They crawled under the plants and tried to stay as quiet as possible. They had no food or water, no phone signal, no idea what was going on outside.
“We were terrified,” Laura said. “We heard gunshots and explosions all around us. We heard helicopters and drones flying over us. We heard people crying for help. We didn’t know if anyone was coming to rescue us or if we were going to die there.”
They prayed to God and tried to comfort each other. They talked about their families, their dreams, their memories. They hoped that someone would find them alive.
“We tried to stay positive,” Laura said. “We told each other that we loved each other, that we were strong, that we would make it out of there.”
They also tried to avoid attracting attention from the terrorists, who were roaming around the area looking for more victims or hostages. At one point, Laura said, they heard footsteps near their greenhouse and saw a shadow passing by.
“We held our breaths,” she said. “We thought he was going to come in and kill us. But he didn’t. He just walked away.”
They later learned that it was one of the Hamas fighters who had infiltrated Israel through a tunnel under the border fence. He was part of a group of about 50 militants who had planned the attack for months, according to Israeli authorities.
The attack was part of a larger operation by Hamas to launch rockets and incendiary balloons at Israel from Gaza, as well as to kidnap Israeli civilians and soldiers. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s history, surpassing the 1978 Coastal Road massacre that killed 38 people.
Laura Malo decided to call her parents to say goodbye, thinking that she would not make it out alive. She also asked her friends to take care of them. She said it was very difficult to be in that position, like “you call your mother and your father to say, like, if you maybe you don’t go to come home”. She also tried to contact the authorities, but her phone had no signal.
How did she survive the ordeal?
Malo and her friend were eventually rescued by Israeli soldiers who stormed the area where they were hiding. They were taken to a hospital for treatment and reunited with their families. Malo said she felt “saved” when she saw the soldiers, but also traumatized by what she had witnessed. She said she saw “masses of wounded people thrown around” and “people were dying all around”. She also said she felt guilty for surviving while others did not.
Laura Malo said she was grateful for the support she received from her loved ones and from strangers who reached out to her. She said she was trying to cope with the trauma by talking to a therapist and by focusing on positive things. She said she wanted to live her life to the fullest and not let fear stop her from pursuing her dreams. She also said she hoped for peace between Israel and Gaza, and that no one would have to go through what she did.
Who is Laura Malo?
Laura Malo is a 25-year-old woman who was born in Colombia but moved to Israel with her family when she was 10 years old. She lives in Tel Aviv and works as a graphic designer. She loves music, dancing, traveling and photography. She describes herself as a happy, optimistic and adventurous person who enjoys meeting new people and learning new things.
Malo said she decided to go to the Supernova music festival because she wanted to have fun with her friends and celebrate life. She said she was attracted by the idea of a party in the desert with amazing music and lights. She said she did not expect anything bad to happen, as the festival was supposed to be a peaceful event.
Malo said she was proud of being both Colombian and Israeli, and that she felt connected to both cultures. She said she had visited Colombia several times and still had relatives there. She also said she loved living in Israel and considered it her home. She said she wanted to contribute to the country’s development and security.
Malo said she was not involved in politics or religion, and that she respected everyone’s beliefs and opinions. She said she wished for a peaceful solution to the conflict between Israel and Gaza, and that she hoped for a better future for both sides.
Conclusion
Laura Malo is a survivor of one of the worst terrorist attacks in Israel’s history. She escaped death by hiding in a greenhouse for 16 hours while Hamas militants killed hundreds of people at a music festival. She suffered physical and emotional injuries but also showed courage and resilience. She is a young woman who loves life and wants peace.
