One year after the 7 October Hamas attacks, Israel is still grappling with tough questions about the deadliest day in its history. The BBC has gathered accounts from families of soldiers at the Nahal Oz base, which was overrun by Hamas gunmen, resulting in the deaths of over 60 Israeli soldiers. Despite the lack of an official inquiry report from Israel’s military, details have emerged about the events leading up to and during the attack.
Soldiers at the base had noticed suspicious activity prior to the attack, but there was a sudden halt in Hamas activity in the days leading up to 7 October. Many soldiers at the base were unarmed, and official protocols required them to stand back instead of advancing when under attack. Some surveillance equipment was either not functioning or easily destroyed by Hamas.
Questions have been raised about why so few soldiers were armed, why more wasn’t done to respond to intelligence warnings, why reinforcements took so long to arrive, and whether the base’s infrastructure left soldiers vulnerable. The IDF is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the events of that day.
One soldier, known as Sharon, was part of the all-women military unit at Nahal Oz responsible for monitoring surveillance footage. Despite noticing suspicious movements by Hamas forces, the soldiers were instructed to stand back due to the threat of anti-tank missiles. As Hamas fighters breached the border fence and advanced into Israel, chaos ensued at the base.
The ease with which Hamas fighters infiltrated the border exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s defenses. Surveillance cameras were destroyed, observation posts were hit by rockets, and soldiers were left scrambling to respond. The events of that day have raised concerns about the preparedness and response capabilities of Israel’s military.
As investigations continue and families mourn the loss of loved ones, Israel is left to grapple with the aftermath of the 7 October attacks and the tough questions that still remain unanswered.