Hamas’s Bloody Assault on Ofakim: IDF Reveals Shocking Battle Details |WATCH
The IDF’s investigation into the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Ofakim details a deadly infiltration and the courageous response by police, civilians, and elite forces that neutralized all 15 terrorists and rescued hostages. The probe highlights defensive failures but praises the swift actions that limited the massacre’s scope in a complex urban setting.
Yesterday, the IDF released a detailed investigation, led by Brigadier General Simcha Oren, into the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Ofakim, exposing a brutal assault and the heroic response that neutralized 15 Nukhba terrorists. At 6:40 a.m., the terrorists infiltrated via two pickup trucks, reaching Urim junction by 7:01 a.m. and unleashing a murderous rampage in the Mishor HaGefen neighborhood by 7:06 a.m. They killed an ambulance driver and gunned down 10 civilians on HaGoren, Kramim, and HaTamar streets. By 7:15 a.m., a police officer, a civilian, and a Bahad 1 cadet engaged the attackers on Beit VaGan Street, but the officer and civilian were killed, and the cadet wounded. At 7:19 a.m., another civilian was murdered on Pri Megadim Street.
By 7:23 a.m., five terrorists took the Edri family hostage in their HaTamar Street home. Between 7:25 and 7:45 a.m., police and civilians eliminated three terrorists on HaGoren and Kramim, though two officers died in firefights. A separate team neutralized another cell by 7:35 a.m., but the Ofakim police commander was injured by a grenade. Two more terrorists were killed on HaChita Street by 7:43 a.m., at the cost of another civilian life. At 8:30 a.m., the Negev Regional Operations Officer isolated the Edri home, initiating negotiations. A Bahad 1 platoon entered at 9:10 a.m., and by 9:59 a.m., three more terrorists were eliminated in a courtyard clash. The elite Yamam unit took command at 12:45 p.m., storming the Edri home at 2:25 a.m. on October 8, rescuing the couple unharmed and killing four terrorists. A final terrorist was neutralized at 3:30 a.m.
The IDF admitted failing to protect Ofakim, noting the urban setting and lack of fortified rooms increased vulnerability. Yet, the bravery of police, civilians, and Yamam forces halted the massacre. Social media posts on X hailed the heroism, with one user stating, “Ofakim’s defenders turned tragedy into triumph.” The attack, part of Hamas’s broader October 7 assault killing 1,200, underscores ongoing security challenges.