Israeli media outlets disclosed on Monday more details from the probe into the military and security failure in face of the Palestinian resistance attack on October 7, 2023.
“The organization of commanders and some operatives for the October 7 operation began on Friday at 18:30 and was not detected by any Israeli intelligence agency—not Unit 8200, the Shin Bet, nor the Gaza Division responsible for gathering information within one or two kilometers of the border,” the reports mentioned.
“The operation was swift and coordinated: dozens of armed fighters in the first wave were already in their vehicles, fully prepared near the border by around 6:00, waiting for the green light—a coordinated barrage of 960 rockets and mortar shells launched at 6:29 at Israeli army positions in the Gaza envelope, aiming to paralyze them.”
The Israeli media pointed out that the rocket fire served as a signal for Hamas fighters to breach the security fence, which was penetrated in the area opposite Kibbutz Kfar Aza through three infiltration points at 6:35, 6:41, and 6:43. “Simultaneously, Hamas deployed six elite unit members inside the kibbutz using gliders,” the reports added.
“Hamas gathered intelligence on the Nahal Oz base in the Gaza envelope through drones it regularly launched, in addition to utilizing videos uploaded by soldiers from inside the base on the internet.”
The Israeli media added the Nahal Oz camp had been pre-divided, with each elite unit knowing exactly which area it was responsible for capturing.
“The first wave, between 6:30 and 7:00, included 65 of Hamas’ top fighters. They were joined by around 50 more in the second wave by 9:00, followed by an additional 100 fighters by 10:00. At the peak of the attack, approximately 250 armed fighters were inside the Nahal Oz camp, which has a perimeter of just 1,200 meters.”
Hamas forces that reached the Nahal Oz base were highly equipped, not only enjoying numerical superiority but also possessing more lethal combat capabilities, according to the Israeli reports which added that, while the Israeli army did not see the need to routinely equip its soldiers with grenades or shells, and machine guns were stored in warehouses, Hamas entered the battle with a large number of RPGs, various explosive devices, and significant quantities of Kalashnikov rifles and other weapons.
According to the Israeli media reports, five officers from the Golani Brigade’s command fled to the military operations room at the Nahal Oz base on October 7th and did not go out to fight.
“Along with them were 17 soldiers. A fire broke out inside the room, killing most of them, and a few managed to escape by breaking a window and fleeing.”
Israeli media reports concluded that the battle at the Nahal Oz base represents a catastrophic and painful systemic failure that strikes at the core of the military values of the Israeli army.
“We have lost fundamental principles in defense. Despite the clashes inside the base, there were soldiers and commanders who did not seek to engage with the enemy.”
The Israeli occupation army has acknowledged its “complete failure” to prevent the October 7 attack by Hamas, admitting that it had, for years, underestimated the Palestinian group’s capabilities.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
