An IDF investigation into the battle at the Zikim Training Base on October 7 was published this morning (Sunday), revealing that the heroism of the soldiers and their commanders prevented Hamas terrorists from capturing the base.
A power outage at the beginning of the attack disabled the operations room systems, causing security cameras to fail, and significantly disrupting radio communication. But what could have been the scene of another massacre became a battle field fought hard and won, saving over one hundred lives.
Soldiers Demonstrated Determination and Courage
Seven soldiers and commanders were killed and nine others, along with one civilian, were wounded during the battle. Forces eliminated two terrorists who infiltrated the base and nine others at various points in the surrounding area.
According to the investigation: “The courage and determination shown by individual commanders and soldiers prevented the base from falling and foiled Hamas’s plan.”
The investigation highlighted that the soldiers demonstrated exceptional commitment to their mission, courage under fire, personal responsibility, and leadership.
Sadly, the investigation reveals that the force suffered from a lack of firepower, as they did not have access to sufficient ammunition or anti-tank weapons such as LAW rockets.
Seven Heroes Fallen
Despite fierce fighting, 90 recruits and about 30 civilians at the base were successfully evacuated without injury.
The seven fallen soldiers were:
Maj. Adir Abudi z”l, Capt. Or Moses z”l, Lt. Adar Ben Simon z”l, Lt. Yannai Kaminka z”l, Sgt. Omri Niv Feirstein z”l, Sgt. Eden Alon Levy z”l, and Pvt. Neria Aharon Negri z”l.
Timeline of Events
06:29 — Hamas launches its surprise attack, red alert sirens sound. All forces take cover.
06:37 — Commanders meet and express concerns about possible infiltration. A decision is made to replace recruits at guard posts with commanders.
06:49 — Following reports of gunfire, commanders brief their forces and declare a special alert status.
07:02 — Civilians arriving from Zikim Beach are brought into a shelter with the soldiers.
07:14 — Report of nine terrorists running toward the base’s main gate. The base commander calls for reinforcements.
07:24 — Reinforcement forces identify terrorists on the other side of the fence, and engage in a prolonged firefight.
The operations room partially resumes activity, but most security cameras remain offline and radio communication is fragmented. Commanders arrive to bolster defense and assist the wounded.
07:40 — Report of gunfire at the rear gate. Forces link up with reinforcement units and eliminate several terrorists.
08:13 — The rear gate is struck by grenades and RPGs, resulting in the death of four soldiers.
08:14 — Two terrorists breach the base through the rear gate.
08:23 — A soldier ambushes a terrorist and grapples with him with his bare hands, managing to neutralize him with the help of another soldier.
08:25 — The defense company commander is killed by sniper fire; his deputy assumes command but is also killed shortly afterward.
08:35 — A terrorist targeting civilians is neutralized. One civilian is wounded.
09:05 — Senior base commanders arrive and join the fighting.
09:15 — Soldiers arriving from their homes eliminate an additional terrorist.
09:25 — Commanders convene for a situational assessment as the intensity of fire decreases.
10:00 — Maglan Unit forces reinforce the main entrance.
10:30–11:00 — Two terrorists outside the base are neutralized with support from a battalion commander.
11:00 — Evacuation of the fallen by helicopter and vehicle begins, while the fighting continues.
13:30 — Civilians are evacuated from the shelter under military escort.
14:30 — Battle at the training base is officially declared over.
Key Conclusions and Lessons
The reinforcement plan for base defense positions will continue.
The investigation praised the heroism of commanders and soldiers, particularly their evacuation and medical treatment efforts under fire, and their demonstration of mission commitment, leadership, responsibility, and camaraderie.
The decision to bring civilians into the base shelters significantly contributed to saving lives.
Hamas’s plan was disrupted due to the determined fighting of the regional battalion, the Navy, and company commanders.
All terrorists who breached the training base were eliminated.
