Survivors and thousands of others gathered in Tel Aviv on Thursday for the Nova Healing Concert to honour the victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on the Nova music festival.

More than 3,000 people were at the Tribe of Nova music festival on the morning of the attack when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. More than 300 people at the festival were killed.

One of the organizers said that the Nova Healing Concert was created to memorialize the people killed on October 7 and to bring the community together to heal.

“The dance floor is supposed to be the safest place on earth," said Ofir Amir, a producer of the festival. "And through the dance floor, through dancing, through the music, we are healing together."

A survivor of the attack said the event helps her recover from the trauma of that day.

"It is healing as you would call it, but most importantly it makes me feel hopeful that we will dance again," said survivor Joe Cohen.

But not everyone feels the same.

Idan Bahat, father of Dror Bahat, who was killed at the Nova Festival, said his family is still suffering. His son’s body remains in Gaza, and the family continues to wait for answers about the attack.

“So, is it really healing? Well, not for us. Not for us. Nothing has changed, and we are still really, really expecting that someone will try to give us some answers,” he said.

The war started when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more 61,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them to be alive.

The health ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals.

AP Video by Paz Bar