October 7th Failures: Investigation into the battle at the 'Nahal Oz' Ba

Nachal Oz Base — photo: IDF Spokesperson Unit

In the brutal attack on the camp, 53 soldiers fell, and 10 soldiers, including both male and female, were kidnapped—three of whom are still held captive. The full investigation highlights the persistent fighting and bravery of the soldiers against hundreds of terrorists.

The operational investigation regarding the battle at the 'Nahal Oz' base was completed and presented to the bereaved families. It was also shown to the soldiers who served at the camp on the day of the event and to the rescue forces. The investigation was summarized by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, and presented to the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz.

The investigative team concluded that the IDF failed in defending the 'Nahal Oz' camp. The results of the battle reflect a systemic failure in the readiness of both the IDF and the camp to withstand a wide-scale ground attack, even under rocket fire. Alongside the failure, the team emphasized the relentless fighting and bravery of the soldiers, including those from the Golani Brigade, 7th Brigade, "Sky Rider" unit, the lookouts, and the combat intelligence soldiers, who fought against hundreds of terrorists.

In the brutal attack on the camp, 53 soldiers, including officers and enlisted personnel, fell, and 10 soldiers were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip. Three of them are still in the custody of the Hamas terror group.

The investigation was led by Colonel Ido Kas, Colonel (Res.) Uri Levin, Colonel (Res.) David Weiner, Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Gidi Reshef, Lieutenant Colonel Maayan Vaks, and Lieutenant Tamir Yosef. The investigation took about ten months and included interviews with the soldiers who served and fought at the camp, as well as with the bereaved families. A large amount of information was collected to create an accurate and broad picture of the sequence of events, despite the difficulty of accessing them.

Extensive hours of recordings (from open and classified communications), video clips, and images from cameras carried by the terrorists were reviewed, as well as intelligence materials, WhatsApp messages, and other data. Additionally, testimonies from the lookouts who were kidnapped by Hamas were gathered. The operational investigation examined the sequence of events, the battle management, and the conduct of the security forces. It identifies, despite the challenges, the failures in the actions of the forces, alongside highlighting the bravery of the soldiers in a complex operational situation and a numerical disadvantage against a ruthless enemy.

The investigation focused on the battle at the camp, which was one of many combat zones in the surprise attack on October 7. The infiltration of thousands of terrorists into multiple locations simultaneously was the main factor that made it difficult to reach the settlements and camps and contributed to the collapse of the defense system, which prevented reinforcements from reaching the combat zones.

The investigation deals with the operational aspects of the battle and does not discuss issues related to intelligence and the actions of the intelligence gathering units. This matter is being investigated separately in the command investigation.

Key Events of the Battle:

Morning of the Surprise Attack: The camp was manned by various combat units, including Battalion 13 from the Golani Brigade, which was designated as the main defensive force for the 'Nahal Oz' area, two tank crews from the 7th Brigade, an intelligence gathering unit from Battalion 414, and other forces.
Initial Attack (06:29 - 08:20): The terrorists infiltrated the camp, and intense fighting ensued. Despite efforts to fortify positions, the attackers breached the camp.
Continued Fighting (08:20 - 12:00): The battle persisted throughout the morning. During this phase, several tanks were hit by anti-tank missiles, and the defenders continued to fight from protected positions. The terrorist forces were relentless, and several soldiers were captured or killed.
Rescue Operations (12:00 - 20:00): A rescue operation began, with additional forces arriving to assist in neutralizing the terrorists and evacuating survivors. The camp was cleared of terrorists by around 17:00.

Conclusions and Findings from the Investigation:

Underpreparedness for the Attack: The scale of the attack and the gap in readiness led to a failure in defending the camp.
Camp's Lack of Proper Defense Infrastructure: The 'Nahal Oz' camp was not adequately designed or fortified against a ground assault. Its fortifications were meant to withstand rocket fire but were inadequate for preventing infiltration by terrorists.
Failure in Preparing for Ground Attacks: The camp's command and control center was not properly reinforced for a ground attack, and the personnel stationed there were insufficiently trained or equipped to defend against such an assault.
Insufficient Defenses for Non-Combatants: The camp lacked defense plans for non-combatants, such as the lookouts, who were unprepared for the attack.
Disrupted Command and Control: The surprise attack led to the death of key commanders, which disrupted the command structure and made it difficult for the forces to operate cohesively.
Positive Actions Amid Crisis: The investigation highlighted the commendable decisions by commanders to send available forces to nearby kibbutzim to protect civilians, as well as the efforts of the lookouts and intelligence officers who continued to relay operational reports under extreme pressure.

Recommendations:

The investigation also recommended awarding citations of distinction to soldiers and commanders from the Golani Brigade, 7th Brigade, Battalion 414, and the "Sky Rider" unit for their courageous actions and efforts during the battle.