How Six Soldiers Stopped Hamas From Capturing Yiftach Base

The IDF has completed its investigation into the October 7 battle at the Yiftach outpost, concluding that the swift arrival and determined fighting of just six soldiers from the 77th Battalion prevented Hamas from capturing the base.

The review, conducted over the past year through interviews with soldiers and commanders, found that although Hamas fighters managed to breach the compound, their assault was repelled by a vastly outnumbered Israeli force. At the height of the attack, 30 Hamas gunmen stormed the gate, where six Israeli soldiers—armed only with personal weapons—stood their ground. Their resistance forced the attackers to retreat back into Gaza.

The report emphasized that the intervention of battalion commanders and reinforcement units helped restore operational control and prevent further infiltration. Still, the price was heavy: nine Israeli soldiers fell in the battle, including St.-Sgt. Yuval Ben Yaakov, who was mortally wounded defending the front gate.

Timeline of the attack

According to the investigation, the surprise assault began at 6:29 a.m. on Simchat Torah. Within minutes, rockets forced soldiers into shelters while Hamas gunmen opened fire at the gate. The first exchange left one soldier, Sgt. Natanel Yang, dead and others wounded.

Despite being in civilian clothes, soldier Ido Harush rushed to reinforce the gate, followed quickly by a standby squad and the duty officer. They were soon joined by three engineering corps soldiers, forming a small defensive line. By 7:40 a.m., the attackers escalated, launching a mass assault with roughly 27 fighters against the six Israeli defenders. The outnumbered troops fought back, buying time until reinforcements arrived.

Later that morning, tactical command officers mounted a tank to sweep the area and restore control. From 11:00 a.m. until late afternoon, reinforcements—including troops from the Golani Brigade—completed the clearance of the outpost.

A battle of survival

“The enemy failed in its objective of capturing the Yiftach base,” the report stated. “The determined and brave fighting of Battalion 77 soldiers at the gate was decisive in thwarting the attack.”

For the IDF, the Yiftach battle stands as both a story of painful losses and extraordinary valor: six soldiers who held their ground against overwhelming odds, and in doing so, prevented Hamas from achieving one of its central goals on October 7.