An internal investigation by the Israel Defense Forces found that the Israeli military failed to protect the kibbutz of Be’eri on October 7 from Hamas militants. The report highlighted that the military was not ready for Hamas’ extensive infiltration scenario.
Hamas militants struck Be’eri in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. They laid siege on the kibbutz, killed 101 people, including children, and abducted thirty Israelis. The inquiry said the military trained for such isolated and specific infiltrations, but there were no additional reserve forces in the area that could have been deployed to Kibbutz Be’eri at the time.
It stated that despite the local emergency team providing an updated assessment, the IDF struggled to create a clear and accurate situational assessment of what was happening in the kibbutz. There was a lack of command, control and coordination, as well as order among Israel’s various forces and units. Security forces grouped at the entrance of kibbutz but didn’t engage in combat. They didn’t provide sufficient warning to the residents of Be’eri about the Hamas infiltration during the initial hours.
Israeli Forces Fought Hamas with Bravery and Heroism
The report highlighted Be’eri residents’ and Israeli Forces’ acts of heroism and supreme courage, taking on the Hamas militants. This was crucial in strengthening and positioning the defensive line during the initial hours of combat. It prevented the attack from spreading to other parts of the kibbutz.
But 31 security personnel were killed. 100 out of 340 Hamas militants who infiltrated the kibbutz were killed.
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IDF Failed in its Mission
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of the General Staff, said this reflects the magnitude of the failure and the scale of disaster that befell on October 7 on their residents. He asserted that the IDF failed to fulfill its mission to defend the residents. Halevi highlighted that the Israeli forces waited outside the kibbutz when the Hamas continued with the massacre inside the kibbutz, describing it as extremely grave.
He believes the IDF wanted to better understand the situation and failed to apprehend the severity of the invasion. Michal Paykin, Be’eri spokesperson, in a statement said the inquiry helped members of the kibbutz understand about the complexity of October. It said the failure of the army has been burned into Be’eri residents’ bodies and in their hearts.
