BBCOne yr on from the 7 October Hamas assaults, difficult questions are nonetheless being requested inside Israel concerning the deadliest day in its historical past, when the rustic’s robust military used to be stuck off guard and rapidly beaten.The BBC has heard accounts given to households of what took place at one army base that guarded the border with Gaza.The Nahal Ozbase used to be overrun by way of Hamas gunmen at the morning of seven October and greater than 60 Israeli squaddies are reported to had been killed – with others taken hostage.Israel’s army is but to post its legitimate inquiry into what took place there that day, however it has already briefed relations of the ones killed there, and a few have shared the ones main points with the BBC.That is the nearest we need to an legitimate account by way of Israel’s army of what took place at the day.In an try to additional piece in combination occasions, we’ve got additionally spoken to survivors, noticed messages from those that died, and listened to voice recordings reporting the assault because it took place, serving to to construct an image of the velocity and ferocity of the invasion.The BBC has discovered:Suspicious job used to be noticed by way of many squaddies on the base sooner than 7 October, now not simply the younger women folk whose activity it used to be to watch border camerasSoldiers spotted an abrupt prevent to Hamas job within the days sooner than the attackMany Israeli troops there have been unarmed and legitimate protocols had squaddies status again when below assault, as a substitute of advancingSome surveillance apparatus used to be both out of motion or ready to be destroyed by way of Hamas with easeThe main points we’ve got established elevate questions – together with why so few squaddies had been armed at a base so just about the border, why extra wasn’t achieved to answer the intelligence and warnings that have been won, the way it took see you later for reinforcements to reach, and whether or not the very infrastructure of the bottom had left the ones there unprotected.We put our findings to the IDF, who spoke back to mention it used to be in the course of a “thorough investigation into the occasions of October seventh, together with the ones in Nahal Oz., and the instances previous”.___On 7 October, Sharon – now not her actual title – started her shift at Nahal Oz., a couple of kilometre from the Gaza border fence, at 04:00.She used to be a part of the bottom’s all-women army unit – referred to as Tatzpitaniyot in Hebrew – and their position used to be to check are living surveillance pictures captured by way of cameras alongside the fence.The ladies labored in shifts within the base’s struggle room, or Hamal, staring at Gaza thru a financial institution of screens across the clock.The Hamal is a windowless room safe by way of a cast door and blast partitions, with strict safety protocols.The IDF has instructed households of other folks at the base that day that many army personnel had been unarmed.Gen Israel Ziv, former head of the IDF’s Operations Department, instructed the BBC that right through his provider, there would by no means had been unarmed squaddies in border spaces.“It doesn’t make sense… The soldier is concerning the weapon,” he says.The armed personnel at Nahal Ozthat day incorporated a unit of infantry squaddies from the IDF’s Golani brigade.The BBC has in the past reported that the Tatzpitaniyot had spotted an escalation in suspicious job at the different aspect of the fence, however we’ve got now established that those issues had been additionally shared by way of different squaddies on the base from other gadgets.
Within the days in a while sooner than 7 October, then again, issues had long gone quiet.“There used to be not anything and that used to be scary us,” one infantry soldier stationed on the base recollects.“Everyone felt that one thing used to be unusual. It didn’t make sense.”The IDF’s failure to take hold of what used to be taking place used to be right down to “a large number of conceitedness”, says Gen Ziv, the idea that “Hamas wouldn’t assault, wouldn’t dare, and that even if that is so, they aren’t succesful”.“We went to sleep at the sixth considering there’s a cat over there and we aroused from sleep at the seventh and there’s a tiger.”At 05:30, participants of the Golani ready to start out a jeep patrol alongside the Israeli aspect of the fence – one thing they did sooner than first light each and every morning. However they had been then advised by way of their superiors to extend the patrol and stand again on account of a danger of anti-tank missiles, 3 of them have instructed the BBC.“There used to be a caution. It used to be forbidden to move up the direction subsequent to the fence,” one recollects.Any other Golani, 21-year-old Shimon Malka, mentioned one of these caution used to be bizarre however now not extraordinary, so that they gave it little concept.
IDF infantry soldier Shimon Malka: “For us, it used to be simply every other day. I have in mind at 6 o’clock announcing we’ll return to sleep as it’s Saturday.”Gen Ziv says it’s usual IDF protocol to face other folks again right through suspected assaults like this so they are able to “steer clear of being uncovered as a goal”. However, he says, “Hamas realised that and used it” to their merit.He mentioned the bottom will have to had been supplied with positions that the Golani may just safely reply from.“There are quite simple ways to hide squaddies so that they’re below duvet however they’re nonetheless able to react, not to lose sight,” he mentioned.Because the Golani waited clear of the fence, Sharon started seeing actions amongst Hamas warring parties. However they gave the impression not anything instead of regimen – “in addition they have shifts.”
By way of 06:20 Hamas had begun taking pictures rockets, however once more Sharon says this didn’t appear instantly alarming – she had skilled rocket assaults sooner than and the bottom used to be well-shielded towards them.“It’s typically 5 mins of taking pictures after which a spoil,” she says.However this time, there used to be no spoil.
At about 06:30, Sharon says she may just see Hamas forces starting to shut in.The Tatzpitaniyot radioed thru to the bottom forces to alert them.“All stations, 4 other folks working to the fence, replica,” one of the most younger women folk introduced, her voice shaking quite. “I’m figuring out two armed other folks working to the fence, replica.”Concentrate to Roni Eshel’s radio message: “I’m figuring out two armed other folks working to the fence.” Roni later died within the 7 October attacksAbout the similar time, Shimon heard the code phrases for a rocket assault thru his radio. His commander ordered they soar from their jeep right into a Namer – a kind of Israeli armoured staff provider – and head against the fence.However he couldn’t see any incursions and assumed it used to be only a drill.This so-called iron wall had lengthy been seen by way of the IDF and other folks throughout Israel as impenetrable, and but bases alongside it all started reporting breaches.Each and every of the Tatzpitaniyot on shift at Nahal Ozwitnessed between two and 5 breaches of the phase of border fence they had been accountable for tracking, says Sharon. They watched as Hamas warring parties made their approach within Israel.Gen Ziv says the convenience with which warring parties had crossed the fence confirmed the failings in a barrier seemed to be impenetrable.“As you noticed, two truck-loads may just come and push it. It used to be not anything. Although there used to be a minefield of fifty or 60 metres over there, it could have not on time Hamas for a couple of hours.”
In a while sooner than 06:40, an statement publish at Nahal Ozused to be hit and broken by way of a rocket, in step with IDF circle of relatives briefing notes shared with the BBC.A sniper-sighting gadget used to be put into motion from the Hamal – the nerve centre of the bottom – and an officer tried to shoot remotely at gunmen seeking to go the border, the IDF instructed households.Infantry officials joined the Tatzpitaniyot within the Hamal, too. Sharon recalls one commander arriving in her pyjamas.After which, as gunmen persisted to shoot at surveillance cameras, the tracking displays within the Hamal began to move darkish.The truth that Hamas have been working in undeniable sight of those surveillance cameras, alongside the border within the weeks sooner than, used to be tactical, says Gen Ziv, so as to “normalise issues”.Simply 100 metres from the place the Tatzpitaniyot had been running, Alroy – one of the most 5 IDF statement balloonists on web site that morning – used to be woken by way of the rockets and the sirens, his father Rafi Ben Shitrit instructed the BBC.The IDF later equipped main points of an preliminary investigation to Alroy’s circle of relatives about what took place that day.The balloon at Nahal Ozoffered a deeper view into Gaza, and used to be intended to be operational 24 hours an afternoon.However on 7 October it used to be one among 3 alongside the border that had been out of motion.
Getty ImagesIDF statement balloon pictured in 2021“The balloon in Nahal Ozdid not paintings and nobody used to be wired, they had been instructed it could be fastened on Sunday,” says Mr Ben Shitrit.“There used to be an environment like: ‘Hamas is deterred, even supposing one thing occurs it is a terrorist infiltration or at maximum a terrorist squad.’”Again at her surveillance level, Sharon carried on frantically speaking with squaddies at the floor.“I cried and introduced, concurrently,” she says.She recalls that the commanding officer yelled for “quiet” as a result of one of the younger women folk had been shedding focal point amid the horror.On the fence, Shimon says he adopted the radio instructions. He nonetheless couldn’t perceive why the younger lady’s voice he used to be listening to sounded so panicked.“I may just really feel the strain, however I couldn’t see anything else.”When his unit reached where the Tatzpitaniyot had directed them to, they noticed Hamas vans breaking during the fence.“They began to shoot at us. Possibly 5 vans.”The warriors shot again and ran over the ones on motorbikes.
In a while after 07:00 got here the instant everybody feared and no one may just consider. Hamas gunmen had been on the door of the Hamal.“Rise up, the terrorists are on the door,” Sharon recalls being instructed.The Tatzpitaniyot had been ordered to desert their positions and head to an place of business within the struggle room.Gen Ziv says that the ones upper up within the army didn’t put sufficient emphasis on protecting the bases themselves, focusing as a substitute on exterior patrols.“That used to be a part of the entire mess as a result of as soon as the enemy shocked them and went into the bottom they weren’t able. The entire thing collapsed,” he says.
At about 07:20 what used to be referred to as the defend – a bomb refuge out of doors the Hamal – used to be attacked.Amongst the ones sheltering within had been some off-duty Tatzpitaniyot, who had been being safe by way of “4 feminine warriors”, in step with a WhatsApp message despatched at 07:38 by way of one of the most Tatzpitaniyot sheltering there and noticed by way of the BBC.There have been no additional messages from her within the crew.The IDF instructed households that those “feminine warriors” had been the one armed other folks hiding within the refuge – and so they saved Hamas warring parties at bay with their gunfire till a grenade explosion killed one of the most commanders and injured others within.At this level, about 10 of the warriors controlled to flee the refuge and locked themselves within the lodging barracks. Everybody else within the defend used to be both killed or captured by way of Hamas.Shimon and his commander headed again to the bottom, however they nonetheless weren’t acutely aware of the size of what used to be taking place.The IDF would later temporary the circle of relatives of a type of killed at Nahal Ozthat the assault at the base used to be begun by way of drone moves, and motion by way of 70 warring parties from 4 instructions, and that ratings extra joined because the morning went on.
TelegramHamas drone strike goals automobiles within the base.Up and down the Gaza Strip, hundreds crossed into Israeli territory.On his as far back as base Shimon says he started to appreciate the size of the assault.“After we were given to the bottom, the entirety used to be burned,” he says.Within the place of business within the Hamal, Sharon says the gang of about 20 squaddies attempted to calm every different down.In the meantime, they made repeated makes an attempt to name for extra enhance.“I suppose [someone] mentioned one thing like ‘There’s no backup, no-one can come,’ and I have in mind my officer mentioned ‘We don’t want backup, we want rescue.’”
In a while sooner than 08:00 an Israeli drone, referred to as a Zik, arrived, however it had issue distinguishing between Israeli squaddies and Hamas, in step with the IDF account, which supposed it used to be slower to assault its meant goals.At about the similar time, an assault started at the Hamal, with a lot of taking pictures. The ones armed fought on the doorways of the development to stop Hamas from getting within. The combating persisted for roughly 4 hours.In the meantime, Shimon says he and different squaddies combating on the base had been utterly outnumbered. There used to be no signal of reinforcements.“It used to be all imprecise.”At about 09:00, the Golani headed to the bottom’s eating room the place the Tatzpitaniyot had instructed them many of the gunmen had been hiding.Kin would later learn by way of the IDF that there have been 150 gunmen to each and every 25 battle squaddies getting into Nahal Ozthat day.“What Hamas used to be doing that morning used to be swarming,” says Gen Ziv.“There have been over 70 other breaches… over 3,000 terrorists… They knew they didn’t have the standard so that they needed to pass amount.”A video, which Israeli media reviews used to be filmed round this time, presentations younger surveillance officials at Nahal Oz., who have been captured by way of armed Hamas.“You canine, we will be able to step on you,” one guy is heard announcing as the ladies’s fingers are tied, their faces towards the wall.Dr Ayelet Levy’s daughter Naama used to be taken hostage from Nahal Ozby Hamas. “My daughter is an overly sturdy woman,” she saysNineteen-year-old Naama Levy, who had most effective began on the base the day before today, pleads that she has “buddies in Palestine”, her face lined in blood.The pictures presentations the ladies being dragged right into a ready car and pushed away.It’s devastating for Naama’s mom to look at. “The injuries, the blood, what she used to be announcing, what the terrorists had been announcing to them, the horror of the ones moments,” says Dr Ayelet Levy.Gen Ziv says the Tatzpitaniyot at Nahal Oz. “had been superb – the error used to be the gadget, the commanders, now not them”.
Greater than 3 hours after the assault had begun, at 09:45, an IDF helicopter began firing on the Hamas gunmen, officials instructed grieving relations. It fired into the bottom 12 instances.Shimon and 6 others, together with their commander, drove out of the bottom and returned in formation on foot. He says they had been fired on “from all instructions”.Throughout the sound of computerized gunfire would come a sequence of unmarried pictures, fired by way of a Hamas sniper they couldn’t see.“Each and every time he shot, one among my buddies were given a bullet within the head,” he says.Shimon says he used to be the one a type of combating along him to live to tell the tale, and he too, had a close to pass over.“A bullet handed proper by way of my head… I may just listen the bullets hitting the concrete round me and really feel the warmth from them.”At this level, he says his radio used to be not operational.Gen Ziv describes the day as a “highest typhoon”.“For such a lot of hours the backup used to be now not there as a result of no one knew precisely what used to be happening and the place to ship the backup,” he explains.Shimon escaped the scene and moved to a sniper’s place sooner than becoming a member of with squaddies from every other unit who went to give protection to a kibbutz.
Again within the Hamal, or struggle room, there used to be a vital building at about 11:00.The electrical energy used to be minimize which supposed the locks to the doorways, which have been on an electrical gadget, had been launched. It left the struggle room broad open, in step with the IDF account given to a number of households. Hamas warring parties started taking pictures within and throwing grenades.One used to be killed in a face-to-face knife combat with a Golani soldier, the IDF instructed households.Gen Ziv mentioned on the level that squaddies had been depending on door locks for his or her protection, the wider army gadget had “already failed”.Within the IDF’s briefing to households it mentioned “terrorists threw a flammable substance into the Hamal and set it on fireplace”.
Channel 12What used to be left of the smoke and fire-damaged struggle room“The smoke used to be actually thick. Everybody began to cough and suffocate. Folks begin to fall and faint,” recollects Sharon.One mom says she used to be instructed by way of the IDF {that a} “poisonous substance” have been utilized by Hamas within the assault, even though others weren’t acutely aware of this element or mentioned the IDF had since modified its account in this.
At about 12:30, seven other folks within the Hamal – together with Sharon – controlled to really feel their option to the bathroom window and climb out, in step with accounts of the ones there that day.There, she and the opposite survivors waited for extra to practice. However no-one got here. Sharon used to be the one survivor a number of the Tatzpitaniyot on shift that day. One different younger lady within the unit, who used to be on the base however now not running that morning, additionally survived.By way of the tip of seven October, the army had regained keep watch over, however lots of the ones stationed there didn’t live to tell the tale the day. Seven Tatzpitaniyot had been taken again to Gaza as hostages, the place one used to be killed, every other rescued and 5 nonetheless stay.
Channel 12Two fire-damaged workstations within the Hamal Throughout Israel that day, about 1,200 other folks – together with greater than 300 squaddies – had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage. Since then, greater than 41,000 Palestinians had been killed because of Israeli army motion in Gaza, the Hamas-run well being ministry says.The Nahal Ozdead had been to incorporate Alroy the balloonist and 4 comrades, who had engaged in a long fight with Hamas, says his father, mentioning knowledge given to him by way of the IDF.They controlled to kill just about 10 gunmen, he mentioned, however the 5 had been outnumbered and had been all discovered useless within a cellular refuge at 14:30.The struggle room – which have been designed as a secure area for the bottom’s gadgets – used to be destroyed. Footage and movies display it charred, the displays the Tatzpitaniyot have been sparsely tracking, blackened. Bone fragments had been discovered a number of the ashes there.The survivors and the households of the ones killed and abducted are left with unanswered questions on the way it went so flawed.Further reporting by way of Jon Donnison and Naomi Scherbel-Ball
