10 heroes vs. 80 terrorists: The untold story of Kibbutz Re’im’s October 7 battle

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Kibbutz Re’im became one of the central battlegrounds during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. An investigation into the events of that day has revealed the extraordinary courage and determination of the kibbutz’s small local security squad, which held off a large-scale terrorist infiltration with minimal support for several critical hours.

At the time of the assault, eight members of the ten-person civilian security squad were present in the kibbutz. The squad quickly mobilized at 7:20 a.m. following the first alarms, dividing into three teams to monitor different sectors. Just ten minutes later, survivors of the Nova music festival massacre began arriving at the kibbutz, followed shortly by the first wave of terrorists.

At 7:51 a.m., five to ten heavily armed terrorists breached the kibbutz’s southern gate. A gunfight ensued, in which the defenders eliminated one terrorist, forcing the others to retreat temporarily. Minutes later, at 8:01, a second, much larger group of approximately 40 terrorists entered from the north. These assailants, many traveling in vehicles, began a brutal campaign of murder, kidnapping, looting, and arson, particularly in the HaTza'irim neighborhood. During this phase, five civilians were abducted and five were murdered.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the security squad fought tirelessly, engaging the attackers across the kibbutz and setting up roadblocks to prevent further infiltration. At around 9:00 a.m., another 20 terrorists entered the area and ignited additional homes. Reinforcements from the Israel Police’s Special Patrol Unit and later IDF troops joined the battle, killing several attackers at the kibbutz gate and nearby junction.

The fighting intensified through the morning. At 9:47 a.m., the security squad and police regrouped at the southern gate and confronted another wave of terrorists. They continued to evacuate residents from burning homes, assist wounded civilians, and prevent further penetrations into the heart of the kibbutz.

It wasn't until approximately 11:40 a.m. that significant IDF reinforcements fully arrived. By then, the local squad, through sheer bravery and tactical skill, had led festival survivors to safety, defended civilian homes, and directly engaged the attackers. In total, around 80 terrorists had entered the kibbutz, 49 of whom were killed within its perimeter. The remainder are believed to have fled back to Gaza.

Seven residents and 15 members of Israel's security forces lost their lives, and five civilians were kidnapped — all of whom have since been returned. The investigation ultimately concluded that the IDF had failed to defend Kibbutz Re’im adequately in the initial hours. The local squad’s heroic stand was pivotal in preventing a far greater tragedy, marking the battle of Re’im as one of the most harrowing — and heroic — chapters of the October 7 attacks.