On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants carried out a devastatin
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants carried out a devastating attack on the Tribe of Nova / Supernova music festival near Re’im, southern Israel. Over 100 armed militants crossed from Gaza using trucks, motorcycles, and paragliders, launching a surprise assault during the early morning hours while about 3,500 people were celebrating the Jewish holiday Sukkot.
The militants fired on crowds, threw grenades, blocked escape routes, and hunted fleeing attendees in and around the festival area. Many were shot while running or trying to escape in vehicles, some were burned alive, and dozens were abducted and taken into Gaza. There is well-documented evidence of mass shooting, kidnapping, and sexual and gender-based violence against attendees.
Key details:
- Estimated killed: 344 civilians (plus 34 security personnel), making it the deadliest civilian massacre in Israeli history.
- Hostages: 44 people were seized and taken to Gaza, and as of June 2025, at least 16 are still held captive.
- Attackers: 1st and 3rd companies of Hamas’s Nuseirat Battalion, initially headed for another target but turned to the festival after noticing the crowd.
- Timeline: The attack began just after dawn with a barrage of rockets providing cover, followed by ground infiltration. The on-site police ordered evacuation, but thousands struggled to escape as gunmen converged on the event, firing indiscriminately at vehicles and groups on foot.
- The attackers encountered little resistance; many victims were killed hiding in bushes, cars, or as they ran across fields. Some were executed at close range.
- The massacre at the festival was one episode within the larger October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,200 Israelis and over 250 hostages taken overall.
The attack triggered a full-scale war between Israel and Hamas and remains one of the most traumatizing events for Israel’s young generation and one of the deadliest single terror attacks against civilians in recent history.The event and its aftermath continue to be the focus of global shock, mourning, and calls for accountability.
It is difficult to provide an exact number of currently active Islamic militant groups worldwide, as these organizations often change, new ones form or old ones dissolve, and each country maintains its own list of "terrorist organizations." However, according to various government and international agencies, there are dozens of prominent and active Islamic militant groups.
Key points:
- Major active and dangerous Islamic terror/militant groups include: Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and others.
- Some groups operate only in specific regions, while others like ISIS have international networks with many “provinces” or branches.
- According to official lists by the United Nations and different countries, there are generally between 20 to 40 such Islamic militant groups currently considered active.
- The exact number keeps changing as some groups become inactive, split up, or new ones emerge.
Conclusion: The number of active Islamic militant groups worldwide is generally estimated to be between 25 and 50, but this figure is not precise and is always changing.
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