The probe’s findings found that soldiers acted appropriately, fighting with courage, and seeking to join the frontlines, in order to prevent terrorists from Hamas’s Nukhba Force from infiltrating.
Dozens of Hamas terrorists attempted to attack and infiltrate Kibbutz Nir Am on October 7, 2023, but were foiled due to the determined fighting, appropriate reinforcement, and operational activity of both the IDF and the kibbutz emergency response squad, according to the IDF’s findings released on Wednesday.
The IDF’s probe commemorated Samar Fouad al-Talalka, a Bedouin worker in the kibbutz hatchery, whom the infiltrating terrorists kidnapped.
Talalka was killed on December 15, 2023, when he was misidentified as a terrorist during an IDF operation in the Gaza Strip, along with fellow hostages Yotam Haim and Alon Shamriz, who were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
The probe also noted that a foreign worker was taken hostage from the kibbutz.
The military specified that the IDF soldiers, including special forces soldiers from the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, along with Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agents, the kibbutz’s emergency standby squad, and the Border Police’s tactical brigade, as well as others, fought with “courage, camaraderie, initiative, and leadership,” which played a key role in protecting the kibbutz.
The damaged Kibbutz Nir Am hatchery office, destroyed during the October 7 massacre, pictured on December 30, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
Main conclusions from the IDF investigation into Kibbutz Nir Am
The IDF’s findings are divided into four sections, each addressing the actions of the IDF company responsible for the sector, the battle within the kibbutz hatchery, the kibbutz’s emergency standby squad, and the IDF reinforcements, respectively.
The sector company
The IDF found that the company responsible for the sector maintained a proper command and control array throughout the fighting despite extreme operational challenges, which prevented the terrorists from achieving their goals.
The company’s readiness during their morning alert exercise, as well as their quick response, played a role in preventing the terrorists from infiltrating many additional locations.
Both the operational activity and the personal behavior of the soldiers positioned in the company outpost succeeded in preventing terrorists from infiltrating the position. Further, the outpost’s infrastructure was deemed appropriate, and the military noted that the defensive position greatly assisted the soldiers in preventing infiltrations.
The mortar platoon of the company was instructed to target positions on the perimeter fence, which, alongside assistance from the Israel Air Force, prevented terrorists from Hamas’s Nukhba Force from infiltrating toward Kibbutz Erez, as well as other positions.
The company commander’s instructions to their soldiers to man the company’s reinforcement armored personnel carrier (APC) enabled a flexible deployment of manpower, including the ability to evacuate a fallen soldier, along with other casualties.
The battle in the kibbutz hatchery
The military found that the fighting in the area around the hatchery prevented terrorists from continuing to infiltrate deeper into the kibbutz, toward Sderot, and to other targets.
The findings singled out the actions of Sgt. Matan Abargel, 19, as heroic. Abargel fell on top of a grenade to absorb the blast and shielded his fellow soldiers inside the APC, dying in the act.
The military also noted that the combined mobilization of infantry, APCs, air, armor, and the utilization of all available means enabled the successful defense of the hatchery.
The kibbutz’s emergency response squad
The military found that the emergency response squad was deployed efficiently and appropriately, which aided in the defense of the kibbutz.
The findings were expanded by clarifying that the squad played a key role in blocking two attempts by terrorists to infiltrate Nir Am.
However, not everything went exactly to plan, as there were factors that delayed the squad’s ability to respond. These included the need to fill up empty magazines with ammunition, which prevented deployment; the presence of three faulty guns in the armory, which harmed the squad’s strength and abilities; and the storage of weapons in the armory rather than at squad members’ homes, which also delayed deployment.
IDF reinforcements
The probe singled out a tank manned by a company commander from the Armored Corps’ 77th Battalion, which arrived at a critical time, having a significant impact on the results of the battle at the kibbutz hatchery.
In addition, Border Police officers, including those from the tactical unit, demonstrated camaraderie and professionalism, aiming to join the fight at the frontlines, which played a role in preventing additional casualties inside the APC, enabled a successful evacuation of casualties from the battle, and aided in the successful defense of the kibbutz.