06-07-2025
Oct. 7 probe in Mivtahim reveals military failure, massacre thwarted by small security squad
The probe revealed that a small emergency response squad, along with a single special forces soldier, prevented the massacre in the moshav.
An IDF probe into the events that occurred on October 7 at Moshav Mivtahim in southern Israel revealed that the military failed to protect the moshav after the Hamas terror group infiltrated in the early morning hours.
No military forces arrived until 1 a.m. that night, the probe showed.
The probe also revealed that a small emergency response squad, along with a single special forces soldier, prevented the massacre that was planned to take place in the moshav.
Only four members of the response squad were armed at the time.
The military released a full timeline of the events from the beginning of the day, mapping out the order of events as they occurred.
6:35 a.m.: Hamas terrorists crossed into Israeli territory and moved toward Mivtahim.
6:43 a.m.: The regional security officer alerted the emergency squad via WhatsApp due to a confirmed infiltration.
6:47 a.m.: Mivtahim's security coordinator reached out to his counterpart on Moshav Yesha and activated his squad. Simultaneously, forces from Golani's 51st Battalion and tanks began handling 10 infiltration routes, which turned out to be dozens in hindsight. A security coordinator reported a confrontation at the Mivtahim junction.
7:25 a.m.: A wounded civilian from the junction reached a shelter in Moshav Yesha.
The deputy security coordinator of Yesha called for medical aid and met with Mivtahim's security coordinator to assess the situation.
7:43 a.m.: Mivtahim's security coordinator and another squad member went to the junction. They joined the police and a Sde Nitzan resident, and engaged in battle against terrorists on the western side of the junction.
8:00 a.m.: Terrorists entered from the west through the fields. A squad member replaced the security coordinator in commanding the junction, as the security coordinator returned to the moshav, realizing fighting was underway.
8:15 a.m.: A squad member and an armed civilian encountered wounded workers near the synagogue and led them to a shelter.
The security coordinator and another member arrived shortly after.
8:18 a.m.: The security coordinator-led team headed to a traffic circle and spotted terrorists throwing grenades at homes.
A resident warned them from his window. Low on ammunition, they tried to reach a vehicle under fire—one was injured, and his weapon jammed.
Terrorists entered the yards of two homes. The Yesha deputy security coordinator came to help.
8:22 a.m.: The deputy security coordinator and a squad member from Yesha arrived, split up, and fought. A special forces soldier home on leave realized what was happening and joined the fight.
All three were likely ambushed and killed. Another squad member from Yesha was later killed near the community center.
The deputy security coordinator was killed near the kindergarten while trying to get reinforcements.
8:30 a.m.: The security coordinator from Moshav Amioz arrived at the traffic circle after seeing WhatsApp reports and engaged in firefighting, later returning to Amioz, where his vehicle broke down.
8:40 a.m.: Terrorists broke into a resident's home but failed to breach the protected safe room where the family resisted.
9:40 a.m.: Terrorists stole cars from the traffic circle and left the moshav. Three others who remained wandered around the yards for hours before being captured.
10:27 a.m.: Four additional terrorists entered from the greenhouse area.
10:31 a.m.: A counter-terror unit (LOTAR) from the Arava region arrived, fired at terrorists, and forced them to retreat.
11:00 a.m.: Police forces arrived, called in reinforcements, and began searches. Ten minutes later, LOTAR began guided searches based on resident reports.
13:30 a.m.: Units captured three terrorists who had tied up foreign workers in a resident's yard.
Ultimately, the findings of the probe concluded that the events that occurred reflected an operational military failure.
The terrorists' massacre plan was disrupted due to the emergency squad and its members, the probe showed.
It was also concluded that Mivtahim's emergency squad met official standards, but due to policy changes, not all members were armed or equipped, as the squad wasn't trained for an infiltration of this scale.
Further, no significant military force took responsibility for the moshav until 1:00 a.m.
