IDF probe reveals 'systemic failure' in Nahal Oz base that fell to Hamas terrorists on Oct 7

An Israeli military probe has described the fall of the IDF Nahal Oz base to terrorists as one of its largest failures during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, invasion attack.

The military investigation, led by Col. Ido Kas, commander of the 551st Reserve Paratroopers Brigade, examined in detail the events of the Hamas attack on the Nahal Oz base, located just 850 meters (approximately 2,789 feet) from the Gaza border.

Kas’ team concluded that “the IDF failed in the battle to protect the Nahal Oz base. The battle results express a systemic failure in the IDF’s and the base’s readiness for a wide-scale ground attack under rocket fire.”

The probe revealed there were 162 soldiers on base the morning of the Oct. 7 attack.

The 90 armed soldiers, including 81 combat troops, failed to repel the initial wave of 65 terrorists who invaded the base. All in all, some 215 Hamas terrorists attacked the base, which quickly fell. Fifty-three IDF soldiers, including 16 female outlook troops, were killed by the Hamas operatives, who also abducted seven female observers and three tank soldiers.

Nahal Oz was by far the hardest hit military site during the attack on Oct. 7, when some 5,600 terrorists invaded Israel, massacred 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages into the Gaza Strip. 

The investigation revealed that the military base appeared to lack a formal procedure for defending unarmed female noncombat soldiers. Furthermore, the base did not have an official protocol for what to do in the event of rocket fire on the base.

In addition, the observers at the base had reportedly never carried out a drill simulating a ground-based attack despite being located near the Gaza border. Only one soldier was on guard duty on the morning of the Hamas attack. While the base was unprepared for the attack, Hamas had spent years gathering detailed intelligence on its vulnerabilities.

The Hamas terror group collected intelligence from social media posts of soldiers by using drones and studying IDF publications. Hamas reportedly captured the base in just one hour, while it took the Israeli military several days to re-capture the base and eliminate all the terrorists. 

In December 2023, the parents of the female soldiers who were murdered, visited the Nahal Oz base. 

The probe also highlighted that “alongside the failure, the heroism and stubborn fighting of soldiers and officers stood out.” 

Ibrahim Kharuba, a Bedouin Israeli warrant officer who fell in battle against Hamas terrorists at the Nahal Oz base, has been named as a candidate for the IDF Medal of Valor for his bravery in defending the female soldiers at the base.

"It was my greatest honor to defend you," Kharuba told the female soldiers according to the military probe. 

Kharuba had allegedly told the terrorists in Arabic to spare the female soldiers’ lives for the sake of Islam. When the terrorists ignored his plea, Kharuba fought until his last bullet and he eventually fell in the battle. 

"Ibrahim called us that morning. He said the situation was dire and that dozens of terrorists had reached the base. He told us he was protecting the female lookouts. In our culture, the least one can do is protect women and daughters. I know exactly the kind of man I raised – Ibrahim was a man of values who would use his own body to shield others," Kharuba’s father told the Israeli news outlet Ynet.