Timeline of the 7th October Hamas Attack: How Israel’s Defences Fell
Hamas Attacks 7th October: Timeline of Israel’s Response
One year after the shocking Hamas attacks on 7th October, tough questions are still being asked about how Israel’s formidable military was caught off guard. This timeline, based on reporting from Jon Donnison and Naomi Scherbel-Ball of the BBC, pieces together the events of that day with additional insights, providing an in-depth look at what unfolded. While the attack itself was devastating, the aftermath has raised serious concerns about intelligence, military protocols, and preparedness. EyeOnLondon reflects on these findings with a focus on how the attack impacted both Israel and its global partners, including the UK.
04:00 – Sharon Begins Her Shift at Nahal Oz
On 7th October, Sharon (not her real name), part of an all-female military surveillance unit, began her shift at Nahal Oz. The base, situated just a kilometre from the Gaza border, was equipped with cameras monitoring activity on the other side. Sharon and her colleagues had noticed strange behaviour from Hamas forces in the days leading up to the attack, but nothing could prepare them for the events that would soon unfold. The tension was palpable as their surveillance equipment picked up suspicious movements.
05:30 – Golani Unit Stands Back
As the Golani infantry unit stationed at the base prepared for their usual morning patrol, they received a chilling order: stand back due to a potential anti-tank missile threat. What felt like a routine caution at the time turned out to be the first sign of the impending assault. Soldiers noticed an eerie calm as Hamas activity came to a sudden halt—a tactic that now appears to have been deliberate to lull Israeli forces into a false sense of security.
06:30 – Hamas Gunmen Begin Closing In
By 06:30, Sharon had spotted Hamas forces moving towards the fence. Tensions rose as her voice shook while relaying the information to the ground forces. Despite warnings from the surveillance team, the base remained vulnerable. The Golani unit, still following orders to hold back, saw what initially seemed like a regular shift of Hamas forces but quickly escalated as gunmen began closing in on the border fence.
06:40 – Surveillance Screens Go Dark
As the attack intensified, Hamas gunmen systematically shot out surveillance cameras, and one by one, the monitoring screens in the war room went dark. With their sightlines into Gaza severed, the Israeli defence forces were left blind to the ongoing incursions. The base at Nahal Oz, long thought impenetrable, was overrun with ease by Hamas fighters. It became clear that Israel’s defence systems, including the once-reliable border fence, had been breached.
07:00 – Gunmen Reach the War Room
Shortly after 07:00, Hamas fighters were at the door of the war room. The soldiers inside scrambled for safety, but many were unarmed due to military protocols, which have since come under scrutiny. Meanwhile, communication from the ground became frantic. The gunmen’s presence on the base left the soldiers exposed and vulnerable.
07:20 – The Bomb Shelter is Attacked
The so-called shield—a bomb shelter outside the war room—was targeted during the Hamas attacks. Some of the female soldiers, the Tatzpitaniyot, sought refuge there, fighting off the attackers as long as they could. In their final act of bravery, these women held off Hamas fighters with their weapons until a grenade explosion ended their resistance. Their actions, while heroic, highlighted the lack of armed personnel on the base.
08:00 – Israeli Forces Begin to Respond
After nearly three hours of chaos, an Israeli drone finally arrived, followed by ground reinforcements. However, distinguishing between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters proved difficult, delaying effective counterattacks. The Hamas attacks had infiltrated deep into the base by this time, leaving Nahal Oz in shambles. Soldiers on the ground were still outnumbered and outgunned, facing an onslaught of Hamas fighters, some of whom had penetrated the base in waves.
09:45 – Helicopters Arrive, But Too Late
At 09:45, more than four hours after the attack began, an Israeli helicopter fired at Hamas positions on the base. By this point, much of the base had been overrun. According to reports given to families of those killed, there were approximately 150 Hamas gunmen for every 25 Israeli soldiers stationed at Nahal Oz. The day’s events have since raised serious concerns about the readiness and defence strategies of Israel’s military.
11:00 – The Final Attack on the War Room
At around 11:00, Hamas fighters launched a final assault on the war room, throwing grenades and opening fire. In what should have been one of the most secure locations on the base, soldiers were left defenceless as the electric door system failed. Those who survived recall thick smoke filling the air, with soldiers collapsing from suffocation and toxic fumes. Among the brave survivors was Sharon, who managed to escape through a small window with a handful of other soldiers. She was one of the few to survive that day’s horror.
The Aftermath
By the end of 7th October, the Nahal Oz base was under Israeli control again, but at a heavy cost. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers and civilians lost their lives, and several more were taken hostage by Hamas. The incident has left many families demanding answers. Why were so few soldiers armed at a base so close to the Gaza border? Why was the base infrastructure so easily compromised? These are questions that Israel’s military is still investigating today.
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