The IDF on Tuesday published the findings of the operational inquiry into the battle at Camp Yiftah on October 7th, 2023.
The inquiry team determined that by quickly reaching the base's gate, the soldiers from the 77th Battalion who were in the area prevented the enemy from capturing Camp Yiftah. The arrival of additional troops and senior commanders helped stop an additional infiltration into the camp and restored operational control in it. The conduct of the battalion commander, the operations command center, and the lookouts during the day helped control and stabilize the situation.
Nine soldiers fell in the attack on Camp Yiftah.
The inquiry was led by Colonel (Res.) Yaron Sitbon and additional inquiry team members.
It took approximately a year and included interviews and conversations with soldiers and commanders who were present and fought at the camp on the day of the attack. During the process, the inquiry team collected radio recordings, reenactments, observations, security camera footage, and a variety of intelligence material.
The inquiry aimed to present a clear picture of what occurred on October 7th at Camp Yiftah. The IDF noted that due to the difficult and complex circumstances, the inquiry may have inaccuracies, and additional details may be discovered in the future.
The investigation is an operational military inquiry focusing on the sequence of events, the conduct of the battle, and the actions of the military forces. The battle at Camp Yiftach was one focal point among dozens of combat zones during the surprise attack on October 7. The infiltration of thousands of terrorists into dozens of locations simultaneously was the main factor that hindered the security forces from reaching the battle sites.
Camp Yiftah is located in the jurisdiction of the Gaza Division's Northern Regional Brigade. Leading up to the surprise attack, the 7th Armoured Brigade's 77th Battalion operated in the area, with Camp Yiftah serving as its jurisdictional command base.
At 05:30, the battalion deployed in the area as part of the Dawn Readiness procedure, which was conducted in line with the commands and per the situational assessment at that moment.
At 06:29, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a comprehensive volley of fire from the Gaza Strip on the communities of the Western Negev, including the IDF bases and camps in the area. Under the cover of the fire, the terrorists invaded Israeli territory using hang gliders, ground vehicles, and on foot. Within minutes, the area and the area's soldiers were under a well-organized assault, with the battalion being at a significant numerical disadvantage.
The sequence of events and focal points as found by the inquiry team
Stage A: The attack on the base and fighting at the gate (06:29-08:09)
06:30 - due to missile sirens, all soldiers at Camp Yiftah entered protected spaces. After one minute, the battalion ambulances returned to the camp, and it too entered a protected space.
The Welfare NCO, Corporal Naama Bonny, who was guarding the gate to the camp at the time, wrote with friends and family during the rocket launches. At about 06:52, Staff Sergeant Ido Harush heard about Naama's situation and went to the gate dressed in civilian clothes and armed with a gun and an ammunition clip. Following Haroush, the security response team, comprising a commander and two soldiers, proceeded to the gate without battle gear, except for their personal weapons. The officer on duty, Lieutenant Yoav Malayev, immediately followed.
At approximately 06:56, terrorists opened fire at the gate, and an exchange of fire ensued with the soldiers. During the battle, security response team member Sergeant Nathanel Young was killed, and the team commander was injured in the leg.
The troops who arrived at the area of the gate returned fire, and a battle ensued at the entrance, preventing the terrorists from infiltrating the base.
At approximately 07:00, Staff Sergeant Yoval Ben Yakov left the protected area and joined the battle at the gate.
07:01 - a surveillance camera identified an additional terror squad making its way to Camp Yiftah and joining the terrorists who were already firing at the soldiers who were at the gate. Upon arriving at the gate, the terrorists fired at a civilian vehicle driven by a security guard who had just arrived. The guard managed to drive to a safe area and flee.
07:02 - The officer on duty instructed the battalion command center to order all armed soldiers to report to the gate. The operations sergeant followed the order and announced it over the public address system. Following the order, Sergeant Ilay Bar Sadeh proceeded to leave his guard post and ran to the gate. At that moment, two additional terrorist squads arrived at the gate, so at this stage, there were approximately 18 terrorists present.
Following the announcement, a squad of three soldiers from the heavy equipment force who were at the base proceeded to the gate, and after they were hit by terrorist fire, left it and moved to the camp command center. The rest of the heavy equipment force remained in the protected space until the afternoon.
07:04 - Under the instruction of the security response team commander, one soldier went to the living quarters to bring vests and magazines for both of them. By 07:07, the battalion ambulance arrived at the camp’s entrance junction.
07:11 - Two additional terrorist squads were spotted approaching Yiftach base. A minute later, the Operations Officer and the HQ company commander arrived at the gate.
07:18 - Staff Sergeant Yoval Ben Yakov was hit by terrorist fire from the south. The medic, who dismounted from the medical vehicle, was also wounded and self-evacuated back to the ambulance.
07:23 - The Operations Officer returned to the command post, followed about fifteen minutes later by the HQ company commander.
07:24 - The duty officer, Lieutenant Yoav Malayev, was hit by fire from the south and killed near the northern section of the guard post, close to the armory.
07:27 - The battalion ambulance evacuated Staff Sergeant Yoval Ben Yakov from where he was wounded to a protected shelter for medical treatment, together with the wounded medic.
07:40 - Three fighters were engaged at the guard post, while approximately 27 terrorists attacked the base.
07:45 - One of the fighters, Staff Sergeant Ido Harush, was killed by gunfire.
07:52 - A soldier left the guard post to bring additional ammunition after supplies were depleted. At that moment, the terrorists opened heavy fire on the post. The standby squad commander ordered Sergeant Ilay Bar Sadeh and Corporal Naama Bonny to withdraw to a rear position, but Sergeant Bar Sadeh refused to leave Naama and chose to remain in the post to fight.
Phase B: Seizure of the Guard Post and Terrorist Withdrawal (08:09-08:33)
08:09 - Due to Yoval Ben Yakov's critical condition, the battalion ambulance evacuated him toward Ashkelon hospital with approval from the Operations Officer. He was pronounced dead en route.
08:12 - Sergeant Ilay Bar Sadeh was killed at the guard post by terrorist fire. At the same time, Corporal Naama Bonny called MDA for assistance. The terrorists then entered the post and killed Corporal Naama Bonny.
08:14 - Terrorists seized the guard post and stole weapons from fallen soldiers. They entered the base’s vehicle lot, started a Hummer, and retreated toward Gaza.
08:33 - The Hummer reached the security fence. A female lookout soldier engaged it with the “Roeh-Yoreh” system, forcing ~12 terrorists to abandon the vehicle and flee back to Gaza on foot. Additional terrorists were hit during their escape.
Phase C: Evacuation of Wounded and Arrival of Reinforcements (08:33-11:10)
09:07 - A tank that had been fighting near the border fence entered the camp with its commander wounded.
09:20 - Two officers from the Tactical Command College (7th Brigade) arrived.
09:40 - The tank commander was evacuated to the battalion command post.
10:09 - Two more vehicles arrived with the deputy battalion commander and the company commander of the 77th Battalion, along with additional soldiers.
10:30 - Reinforcements began evacuating the wounded. A civilian assisted in evacuating the bodies of Sergeant Nathanel Young, Lieutenant Yoav Malayev, and Sergeant Ilay Bar Sadeh.
11:00 - As a reinforcement force arrived at Yiftach, it came under fire from the south and west. Battalion intelligence officer Sergeant Ilay Bar Sadeh was killed, and others were wounded.
Phase D: Arrival of Additional Forces and Clearing of the Base (11:10-17:00)
11:35 - 77th Battalion deputy commander engaged terrorists near the guard post.
11:52 - During a casualty evacuation, fire was opened from the northwest. Staff Sergeant Orel Moshe was killed while evacuating a wounded soldier; two others were injured.
12:05 - Reinforcements arrived, including former Paratrooper Brigade commanders, the Paratrooper Reconnaissance Battalion, and an Oketz canine unit under Major Aryeh Shlomo Ziering.
12:50 - Major Aryeh Shlomo Ziering, Oketz company commander, was killed by terrorist fire; four additional soldiers were wounded.
13:10 - Forces killed the terrorist near the base fence.
14:00 - Maglan forces cleared the guard post area and evacuated fallen soldiers.
17:00 - Camp Yiftach was fully cleared of terrorists by 51st Battalion forces, under the command of a 7th Brigade officer.
Key Findings and Lessons
- The enemy failed in its objective, prepared for years, to capture Camp Yiftach. The determined and courageous combat of the 77th Battalion fighters and the 13th Company prevented the base’s takeover.
- Rapid arrival of the standby squad and their prolonged, determined defense at the guard post significantly contributed to halting the infiltration.
- Pre-battle procedures and unit interfaces at the base were generally proper, but defense order of battle requires reassessment—particularly stationing a permanent combat force near battalion HQ.
- Assigning a non-combat soldier as guard at the post weakened the initial response. Separation of roles between the duty officer and the duty base commander is needed.
- Remaining inside shelters rather than joining the fight was identified as a professional and ethical failure for some troops.
- The return of the battalion ambulance to the base early in the battle reduced medical flexibility. Later, not returning after evacuating Sgt. Ben Yaakov impacted the medical response.
- Despite this, courageous evacuations of wounded and fallen soldiers were carried out under fire, including by a civilian, and are worthy of commendation.
- Quick arrival of battalion and brigade officers from their homes, rapid manning of tanks, and entry into combat were decisive in changing the course of the battle.
- Swift reinforcement by Paratroopers, Maglan, and Oketz restored operational control, prevented further infiltration, and denied the enemy additional gains.
- Battalion HQ soldiers at the base displayed exemplary conduct, continuing operations under fire, guiding forces via observation, managing the command post, and assisting in the treatment and evacuation of the wounded.