One year after the devastating Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel continues to grapple with critical questions about the day that marked the deadliest incident in the nation’s history. The Israeli military faced significant challenges, particularly at the Nahal Oz base, which was quickly overwhelmed by Hamas forces. Accounts from survivors and families of the deceased soldiers provide insights into the events and failures that occurred that morning.

The Nahal Oz base, situated about a kilometer from the Gaza border, was primarily defended by a unit of female soldiers tasked with monitoring surveillance footage of the border. On that fateful morning, these soldiers, part of the Tatzpitaniyot unit, began their shifts around 4:00 AM. Their role was to observe any suspicious activities across the fence. The base was equipped with security protocols, but many military personnel present were reportedly unarmed.

General Israel Ziv, a former head of the IDF’s Operations Division, expressed disbelief that unarmed soldiers were stationed so close to the border. He noted that, during his service, such a situation would have been inconceivable. The presence of armed infantry from the Golani Brigade provided some defense, but they too faced issues with protocols that ultimately left them vulnerable.

In the days leading up to the attack, soldiers at Nahal Oz noticed unusual silence on the Gaza side, which heightened their suspicions. While soldiers observed an uptick in suspicious activity, the abrupt lull leading up to the attack led them to believe something was amiss. According to one infantry soldier, the absence of activity was concerning and felt “strange.” Gen Ziv later remarked that the military’s complacency stemmed from a belief that Hamas would not dare to attack, a mindset that proved dangerously flawed.

On the morning of October 7, as members of the Golani Brigade prepared for their usual patrol, they were instructed to delay due to warnings of potential anti-tank missile threats. Soldiers noted that while such warnings were not uncommon, they did not expect any serious implications. This delay would prove critical as events unfolded rapidly.

At around 6:20 AM, Hamas began launching rockets at the base. Initially, the soldiers felt secure, having weathered similar attacks in the past. However, this attack marked the beginning of a relentless assault that would soon turn catastrophic. As Hamas fighters advanced towards the base around 6:30 AM, Tatzpitaniyot soldiers relayed crucial information to their ground forces, alerting them to the threat.

Sharon, a soldier at Nahal Oz, described the chaos that ensued. She and her fellow soldiers began to see armed individuals approaching the fence, which compelled them to communicate with their comrades about the escalating situation. “All stations, four people running to the fence, copy,” she reported, her voice revealing her rising anxiety.

The rapid sequence of events highlighted significant operational failures. Questions lingered about why so few soldiers were armed at a border base, how intelligence warnings went unheeded, and why reinforcements were delayed. Survivors recounted a chaotic scene where protocols designed to protect soldiers instead left them exposed. Gen Ziv pointed out that the base lacked adequate defensive positions, which would have allowed soldiers to respond effectively while remaining shielded.

As the situation deteriorated, the soldiers found themselves ill-prepared for the scale and ferocity of the Hamas assault. With communications and defenses compromised, many soldiers faced dire circumstances. The tragic outcome saw over 60 Israeli soldiers killed, and numerous others taken hostage.

The IDF has yet to release an official inquiry into the events at Nahal Oz, but family members of the fallen soldiers have been briefed on preliminary findings. Their accounts have raised serious concerns about the military’s operational protocols, decision-making processes, and overall readiness to respond to such threats.

Survivors from the base, alongside military analysts, are now scrutinizing the series of missteps that led to the devastating loss of life. They are demanding accountability and a reevaluation of strategies to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur in the future.

As Israel continues to mourn and reflect on the events of October 7, the search for answers remains ongoing. The painful memories of that day have not faded, and the calls for transparency and accountability from the military grow louder. The lessons learned from Nahal Oz could shape Israel’s military strategy moving forward, as the nation seeks to bolster its defenses against potential future threats.