Shocking revelations: How Hamas managed to overrun the Nahal Oz base, step by step

Revealed: The Precise Plan of Hamas to Capture the Nahal Oz Base

According to the investigation, Hamas gathered accurate intelligence on the base and attacked in three coordinated waves. At the time of the assault, only one guard was stationed at the front gate.

The attackers had detailed knowledge of the layout of the base, including the locations of various rooms, guard positions, and the areas with lighter security. Hamas timed the attack for Simchat Torah, knowing that fewer forces would be present during this religious holiday.

The night before the attack, Hamas militants were briefed on the operation, and squad commanders began preparing for the assault. One of the female lookouts, who was later released from captivity, recalled a conversation with one of the attackers: "I don't understand how you didn’t detect our preparations on the day before the attack?" This comment highlighted the precision with which Hamas executed its plan.

At 6:45 AM on October 7th, the attack began. There were 162 soldiers stationed at the base, 90 of whom were armed, with 81 combat soldiers. Despite this, the terrorists had overwhelming numbers and better weapons. The deputy battalion commander was wounded shortly after the attack started, and the first wave of Hamas militants infiltrated the post 20 minutes later.

A heroic defense was mounted by the soldiers at 7:30 AM, but they were unable to repel the attackers. Ten minutes later, an IDF armored personnel carrier arrived with a company commander, marking the first military use of vehicles during the attack. By 7:50 AM, the IDF forces were preparing for a counterattack, but by 8:20 AM, part of the force was ambushed and killed, disrupting the counteroffensive.

A second wave of approximately 50 terrorists arrived at 9:00 AM, and by 10:00 AM, a third wave of 100 more militants entered the base. As the base was overtaken, the terrorists abducted soldiers and kidnapped lookouts. At noon, the operations room was set on fire, and the rescue forces arrived only at 2:00 PM, several hours after the attack had begun.

In response to the investigation’s findings, the October Council Families Forum, representing over 1,000 bereaved families, issued a statement calling for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. They criticized the lack of a comprehensive investigation into the political and military failures on October 7th and demanded accountability. "The specific internal investigations into the October 7th massacre are only the tip of the iceberg, and do not constitute a substitute for a state commission of inquiry," they said.

The investigation also revealed that prior to the attack, there were warnings from observers in the Gaza Division about unusual activity near the border. Despite these reports, the threat was not adequately addressed. The spokesperson for Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Matan Weitz, commented on the findings, expressing shock at the failures that allowed the attack to unfold as it did. He called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the disaster and emphasized the importance of bringing back the captives.

This investigation paints a harrowing picture of how Hamas successfully infiltrated and overran one of Israel's most strategically significant bases, despite numerous warnings and the presence of armed forces.