IDF Probe Reveals Civilians Abandoned at Zikim Beach During Oct. 7 Massacre

An IDF probe released sunday found that Israeli troops abandoned civilians at Zikim Beach during the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault, leading to the murder of 17 people by invading terrorists.

The probe characterizes the incident as a “massive failure” by the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, which retreated without effectively engaging the attackers who arrived by speedboat.

While attempting to reach nearby military sites, Hamas terrorists killed one Israeli soldier and continued their assault inland. According to the IDF’s findings, the seven victims who took shelter in a seaside bomb shelter were not recovered for an entire week. Meanwhile, Kibbutz Zikim was narrowly spared from a full-scale infiltration, thanks to its civil defense team.

This report is one of roughly 40 other investigations into encounters that occurred during the massacre, during which approximately 5,600 Hamas militants breached the border, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

“The failure is expressed in the fact that the terrorists were able to infiltrate our territory in a short time and murder 17 civilians,” the report stated.

The investigation, led by Col. Tal Kuritsky of the 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, relied on a wide range of evidence, including surveillance and bodycam footage, army radio transmissions, and survivor testimonies.

Though it did not address broader intelligence failures regarding Hamas, the report condemned the conduct of the Golani soldiers, stating they erred both “professionally and ethically.” The troops should have engaged the terrorists more aggressively instead of pulling back. “The soldiers did not risk their lives and did not strive to engage in close combat with the enemy,” the report found.

Some of these soldiers later participated in the IDF’s ground campaign in Gaza. All but one have since left combat service.

The probe also highlighted a breakdown in communication between the Israeli Navy and Gaza Division for roughly 40 hours following the attack’s onset.

According to the report, at 6:43 a.m., 32 civilians were taking refuge at the beach. Seven Golani soldiers arrived and briefly encountered the civilians, instructing them to remain in place. As a Hamas boat landed and terrorists began shooting, the soldiers retreated, failing to defend the civilians.

By 6:47 a.m., the soldiers had left 20 civilians behind in vulnerable positions. The terrorists soon began executing them. Seven people in the bathroom and another seven in a bomb shelter were murdered. One soldier, Sgt. Dvir Lisha Hy”d, was killed trying to reengage the attackers.

Of the 38 Hamas terrorists involved in the seaborne assault, 32 were confirmed killed; the remaining six are presumed dead but their status is unverified.