Outnumbered and Unprotected, Kibbutz Sufa Faced Hamas Alone on Oct. 7

The IDF's Failure to Protect Kibbutz Sufa on October 7

An in-depth investigation into the events of October 7, 2023, revealed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) failed in its mission to protect Kibbutz Sufa during a Hamas attack. The probe highlighted several critical issues, including a breakdown in command and control, lack of preparedness, and delayed reinforcements. These shortcomings allowed Hamas terrorists to launch a deadly assault on the community.

The report, shared with the families of the fallen and the kibbutz community, acknowledged the bravery of local security personnel, the Nahal Brigade troops, and elite units. Their efforts prevented an even greater tragedy, despite facing overwhelming odds.

The investigation, led by Colonel Shemer Raviv of the Paran Regional Brigade and approved by former Southern Command chief Major General Yaron Finkelman, detailed how nearly 50 Hamas terrorists attacked the kibbutz. They killed three people — two members of the standby security squad and one civilian resident — and caused extensive damage before being repelled.

The nearly year-long inquiry aimed to understand the full scope of what occurred on October 7. It relied on interviews with eyewitnesses, surveillance footage, videos from civilians and terrorists, and interrogations of captured Hamas operatives.

Timeline of the Attack

The attack on Kibbutz Sufa began at 6:29 a.m., as Hamas launched a coordinated rocket barrage across southern Israel. Within minutes, intelligence and surveillance units detected large-scale infiltrations near the kibbutz and its adjacent military outpost.

Just 12 minutes later, at 6:41 a.m., an IDF tank from the “Sufa” company, positioned near the security fence, identified approaching Hamas gunmen and opened fire. The tank held its position for three hours, killing dozens of attackers and slowing the initial wave.

At 6:45 a.m., the kibbutz’s security chief instructed the standby squad to prepare for defense, though they were told to remain indoors for now. By then, two trucks and several motorcycles carrying Nukhba terrorists were already en route to the kibbutz gate.

At 6:52 a.m., four terrorists reached the western entrance to the kibbutz. They opened fire and killed a security squad member, Ofir Erez, who had arrived in his car to confront them. Minutes later, the terrorists entered Sufa, splitting into two squads and beginning a systematic spree of house-to-house killings and destruction.

By 7:00 a.m., the nearby Sufa military outpost came under heavy fire. Hamas forces overran most of the base, sparing only the dining hall, where 30 soldiers took cover. Nine soldiers were killed and 30 wounded in the fighting.

At the same time, another fierce battle unfolded at the Dangur memorial near the kibbutz’s western gate, where Nahal reconnaissance fighters attempted to block Hamas reinforcements. Four soldiers, including a company commander and a platoon leader, were killed in the firefight, and seven were wounded. Additional clashes left six more IDF troops injured.

At 7:29 a.m., four Hamas operatives continued moving through the kibbutz. They reached a civilian home and fired into it from the outside, killing resident Bernard Cowan. Just five minutes later, the kibbutz’s security chief spotted two terrorists near his own home and killed both. Minutes later, he encountered and shot dead two more gunmen, ending the first wave of the attack.

Between 7:50 and 10:30 a.m., the standby squad reorganized to defend the kibbutz, and no additional casualties or kidnappings were recorded during this period.

But at 10:30 a.m., a second wave of fighting began. Roughly 30 terrorists gathered in the orchards north of the kibbutz and opened fire on homes. Reinforcements were not yet on the ground. The standby squad and several armed civilians returned fire. During the exchange, Ido Hubara, a security team member, was critically injured and later died of his wounds.

Several terrorists managed to breach the kibbutz again under cover of gunfire, hiding in improvised positions, but they were unable to reach homes. Gunfire from the orchards continued until IDF reinforcements arrived.

At 11:53 a.m., the first reinforcement team — led by the deputy commander of the IDF’s 80th Edom Regional Division and including fighters from the elite LOTAR Eilat counterterrorism unit — arrived at the kibbutz’s western gate. The six-man team, accompanied by three local fighters, entered Sufa and began sweeping house by house.

By 12:20 p.m., Sufa’s security coordinator had joined them. Together, they stormed a position housing six Hamas gunmen and killed all of them in close-range combat. Meanwhile, dozens of other terrorists continued to fire from the orchards surrounding the kibbutz.

Concurrently, the 80th Division’s deputy commander contacted the air force’s 190th Squadron, requesting a combat helicopter strike. The helicopter struck the orchards twice, killing many of the terrorists and halting further fire toward the kibbutz.

At approximately 2 p.m., additional reinforcements arrived from the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit and LOTAR Eilat, sent by the Southern Brigade. They entered the kibbutz and began a final clearing operation alongside earlier responders.

By 6:30 p.m., the IDF declared the area cleared of terrorists. Control over the kibbutz was transferred to a unit from the IDF’s School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders in wartime.

At dawn the next day, October 8, the residents of Kibbutz Sufa were evacuated by local emergency teams. Over the following days, IDF troops — including infantry, armor, engineering, and aerial units — continued to sweep the orchards. Several terrorists were discovered hiding in the groves; some surrendered, others were killed or captured in combat.

Interrogations of captured terrorists later revealed that they had been ordered to abduct civilians from the kibbutz into Gaza — a plan ultimately foiled by sniper fire from the community’s security team.