Israeli Investigation: 37 Soldiers Fail to Repel Three “Qassam” Fighters in Settlement

An investigation conducted by the Israeli military into the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack, launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas and Palestinian factions in October 2023, has revealed shocking details to the Israeli public, especially regarding the battle at the “Netiv Hasara” settlement.

The investigation confirmed that 37 Israeli soldiers failed to repel three fighters from Hamas’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades during two hours of combat, resulting in the death of 17 settlers.

According to the investigation, the head of security at the settlement, along with 25 soldiers who were on duty, chose to seek shelter inside homes rather than confront the Qassam fighters.

The report noted that the Israeli army is suffering from a lack of equipment, combat means, and human resources—factors described as “chronic diseases” that worsened during the October 7 attack.

The investigation revealed that the battalion commander did not instruct the religious soldiers to join the combat, nor did he call for reinforcements from the “Golani” Brigade stationed in the agricultural greenhouses to pursue the Palestinian attackers.

The report also highlighted that the “Golani” fighters waited for orders via the “WhatsApp” application instead of taking immediate field action.

The investigation concluded that the battle ended with Israeli casualties, while the attackers, who suffered no losses, withdrew safely back to Gaza. This made it one of the most frustrating battles in the Israeli army’s history, according to the report.

Despite the Israeli army’s clear military superiority in the battle, with a senior military commander inside the settlement, a permanent force from the “Golani” Brigade, and a trained and armed reserve unit, this did not prevent just three fighters from causing significant losses, with two of them managing to withdraw safely to Gaza.

According to the investigation, the settlement’s preparedness team, consisting of 25 individuals, was ordered to take shelter in the homes rather than confront the attackers, despite being among the best-trained teams with weapons at hand. This differs from other settlements where weapons are stored in secure places.

The report pointed to clear neglect from the regional battalion of the “Golani” Brigade, which had little to no impact during the confrontation.

When the combat team arrived at the engagement site after about an hour and a half, they did not immediately act but waited for another half hour, relying on receiving orders through “WhatsApp.”

The investigation, led by Colonel Nimrod Aloni, also revealed the accumulation of strategic errors by the Israeli army, including lax operational procedures during quiet periods and the reduction of forces stationed in border areas, which provided a significant opportunity for the Palestinian attackers.

The report stated that previously, the “Netiv Hasara” settlement had tight security, including two military units, each with 40 fighters. However, excessive confidence in security led to the reduction of this force to a small group inside the settlement, making it an easy target for the attack.

By 6:34 AM, three Palestinian fighters parachuted in as a vanguard for a larger force of around 30 fighters, who were supposed to follow them on foot from nearby Palestinian areas. However, the Israeli reserve forces failed to deal with the attack as needed, appearing in a state of chaos and confusion.

According to the report, the “Golani” Brigade’s company commander did not give direct orders for the religious soldiers to participate in the fighting and, instead of leading the battle from the field, preferred to manage the situation from his home.

The report mentioned that the forces stationed at the settlement treated their mission as if they were in a “week-long break,” which contributed to the severity of the military failure.

The investigation concluded that the army’s operational culture suffers from a lack of initiative and immediate readiness, with soldiers relying excessively on technology and digital communication tools instead of swift movement and direct response to threats.

This significant failure in the “Netiv Hasara” battle raises questions about the readiness of the Israeli army to face future threats and casts doubts on its defensive strategy and ability to protect settlements and borders amidst growing security challenges.