Forward from Bernard Moerdler: This is both the hardest and most important article I’ve ever had to write. It's essential for the world to fully understand the events of October 7th, and it’s even more crucial for people to know that it was all too real.
I could have added so much more—there are countless stories of unimaginable pain, loss, and heroism. These are just some of them. So many news organizations have also worked tirelessly to capture what happened on that terrible day. We’ve included some links at the bottom to incredible pieces from other agencies to help give you an even broader understanding.
We will never forget that day, nor will we forget those who were killed. My hope is that this article serves its purpose: to educate and ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.
As we mark one year since the harrowing events of October 7, 2023, it is vital to remember and document what has come to be known by Israelis as "Black Saturday" and the "Simchat Torah Massacre." On that day, Hamas launched the most devastating attack in Israel's history, with a scale and brutality that left the country forever changed. Known as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood by its perpetrators, this surprise assault combined rocket barrages, infiltrations, kidnappings, and widespread violence, targeting both Israeli civilians and military personnel.
Despite months of indicators, including a report from the IDF Gaza Division on September 19 detailing Hamas’ simulated raids, the attack struck with unprecedented ferocity. Israel's intelligence services had downplayed the likelihood of a major assault, even ceasing to monitor Hamas' short-range tactical communications—a decision that would have catastrophic consequences. By the morning of October 7, Israel's military readiness was at a low point, with much of the focus directed towards northern threats from Hezbollah.
As the nation prepared to celebrate Simchat Torah, the attack exposed significant gaps in Israel’s defense and intelligence capabilities. The events of that day, and the many lives lost, remain a dark shadow hanging over the country. What follows is a factual, detailed timeline of the attack, reflecting on the lessons learned as the world marks one year since that day.
Around 3:00 AM - Shin Bet leader Ronen Bar convenes with his team to evaluate unusual Hamas activities in Gaza. The Shin Bet observes Hamas militants' nightly movements and declares them routine exercises. However, Bar grows increasingly uneasy, suspecting something more significant is unfolding.
In the early hours before the attack, Israeli intelligence, specifically Unit 8200, detects the unusual activation of Israeli SIM cards in Gaza by Hamas militants. This action is recognized as highly irregular but does not immediately trigger an alert, as similar incidents had occurred before without escalation.
The lack of intelligence from Hamas’ short-range tactical networks further hinders the Shin Bet’s ability to gather direct insights. Israeli intelligence had ceased monitoring these networks a year prior, deeming them unproductive after they failed to yield meaningful information. As concerns mount, Bar issues orders for the deployment of the Tequila team, an elite counterterrorism unit, to the southern border.
5:55 AM - The first Hamas terrorists cross the border, likely via tunnels, attempting to infiltrate Kibbutz Be'eri. They ambush a resident who arrived to open the gate. Footage of the infiltration is recorded by a CCTV camera nearby.
Around 6:10 AM - As Hamas launches its surprise attack, Israel's border defense systems immediately begin to fail. The Roa Yoreh system, a remotely operated heavy machine gun placed on towers along the Gazan border, is designed to automatically detect and engage threats. It is controlled by operators at distant command centers who can fire at infiltrators approaching the fence. Hamas deploys drones equipped with explosives which then destroys the Roa Yoreh towers, effectively disabling this key line of defense. Some towers are still operating and are used against incoming terrorists until their ammo runs out.
Simultaneously, Hamas targets the surveillance cameras and sensor systems that constantly monitor the border. These cameras are linked to control rooms, where soldiers watch for movement and activate defenses when necessary. Using anti-tank missiles, Hamas blinds these cameras, leaving key sections of the border unmonitored.
In addition, the border fence, designed to trigger alarms when breached, is compromised in multiple locations. Despite being a core part of Israel's border security, it either fails to send alerts or the warnings do not reach the command centers in time, allowing militants to penetrate deeply into Israeli territory without immediate resistance.
6:29 AM - Sirens blare across southern and central Israel, starting in Rishon LeZion, Bat Yam, and Palmachim Air Base, as Hamas launches 2,200 rockets. Moments later, Mohammed Deif, Chief of Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, releases a video claiming responsibility for the attack, officially announcing Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. As the first wave of rockets launches from Gaza, two fighter jets scramble from Hatzor Airbase to patrol near the Tamar gas rig, fearing a potential drone strike.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also informed of the ongoing attack at this time. He sets out towards the Kiriya in Tel Aviv.
Around 6:30 AM - Minutes after the initial rocket barrage, Hamas attempts an amphibious assault on Zikim beach. Two Dabur-class patrol boats and a Tzara'a fast patrol boat from the Israeli Navy's 916th Flotilla patrol the waters near the coast. Hamas militants approach in one speedboat and six rubber boats, each carrying between six and eight fighters, aiming for Zikim and Ashkelon. The Israeli Navy intercepts the boats, sinking two and killing the militants onboard. Despite these efforts, five boats make it to shore.
IDF forces engage the militants as they land, killing most of them;around 20 fighters in total. Meanwhile, the Israeli Navy destroys a vehicle attempting to breach the Gazan border fence and engages additional Hamas squads along the coastline. This prevents Hamas operatives from reaching critical infrastructure, including the oil pipeline terminal and the Rutenberg Power Station near Ashkelon.
6:30 - 6:45 AM - As the attack intensifies, the first wave of Hamas fighters enters Kibbutz Be'eri. Around 70 to 100 militants are part of this first wave. At this stage, the defense of the kibbutz is primarily carried out by the 11 members of the local standby squad ("Kitat Konenut"), a unit specifically trained to respond to immediate threats. The role of this squad is to hold off attackers and protect the community until reinforcements from the IDF arrive. They are the first line of defense, but are vastly outnumbered and under-equipped for such a large-scale assault.
According to reports, Hamas fighters infiltrate Be’eri in multiple waves and act erratically. Some standby squad members report them acting gleefully, honking their horns and laughing as they enter. They suspect the attackers are under the influence of some sort of drug. The initial wave strikes at 6:45 AM with fighters infiltrating from two directions. The standby squad and other kibbutz residents immediately engage the militants, using their knowledge of the local terrain and strategic points to slow down the attackers. This intense combat goes on for hours without significant external military support.
6:41 AM - Commissioner Amir Cohen, Commander of the Southern District of the Israeli Police, declares the "Parish Palestine" code, signaling a full emergency mobilization due to hostile infiltration. This code triggers the immediate deployment of all police forces in the district to key locations. Within 40 minutes, the first Yamam forces arrive at combat zones, followed shortly by additional police units and IDF soldiers. Although soldiers and police reach various areas, they are initially outnumbered and face significant casualties.
7:00 AM - At the Supernova festival near Kibbutz Re'im, attendees are enjoying the final hours of an all-night rave. Just after dawn, the mood shifts dramatically. Many festival-goers capture footage of rockets flying overhead, unaware of the deadly attack unfolding. Among the footage is a paraglider soaring through the sky, initially believed to be part of the event. It turns out to be part of the Hamas infiltration.
Gunshots come suddenly, interrupting the music and sparking panic. Hamas militants infiltrate the festival grounds, armed with automatic weapons, grenades, and other deadly tools. They target anyone in their path, killing about 260 people at the festival in one of the deadliest single attacks of the day.
A festival survivor, Gad Liebersohn, shares his experience: "At 6:30 AM, sirens go off, and the music stops. We start hearing explosions, rockets, and soon gunfire. I ran to my car, but they started shooting at the vehicles." Gad is among those who narrowly escape the massacre.
7:00 AM - N., a Yasur helicopter pilot, wakes up in Tel Aviv and sees a message from his squadron commander to come immediately to Tel Nof with full equipment, anticipating a long operation. While driving, he sees rockets landing in central Israel, an uncommon sight, indicating the scale of the unfolding attack.
7:05 AM - Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is urgently brought to the Kiriya for a briefing on the escalating situation. Simultaneously, reports emerge that an Israeli Merkava 4 tank has been bombed by a Hamas drone before being destroyed by guided anti-tank missile fire.
7:15 AM - In Kibbutz Nir Oz, the community's WhatsApp group receives its first messages about infiltrators. Sagi, a resident, texted: "There are terrorists by the clinic dressed as soldiers." Panic quickly spreads as residents begin taking shelter.
7:25 AM - The army urges residents of the Gaza Envelope to stay home due to a "suspicious security incident."
7:30 AM - Two Apache helicopters from Squadron 190 arrive in the Bari area, reporting chaos and smoke plumes to their base. Squadron commander Lt. Col. A. orders all pilots to report to base immediately, pre-empting official Air Force orders. The helicopters begin firing to isolated areas outside the kibbutzim, aiming to prevent more militants from entering.
Simultaneously, dozens of Hamas militants are attacking the Gaza Division headquarters at Re'im base. Brigadier General Avi Rozfeld and many of his soldiers manage to enter the fortified command and control center, attempting to manage both the division's battle and the base's defense.
The situation severely hampers the IDF's command and control capabilities. With limited information flowing from the division to Southern Command and the Kirya control center, many commanders rushing to the area are operating without clear directions.
A brigade commander arriving at Yad Mordechai junction reports: "I saw terrorists near Erez, but when I finally reached the Gaza Division, they told me they had no situational picture. They asked me to find a combat center and create a picture for them."
The lack of overall situational awareness results in approximately 80 different points of conflict across the south, with many commanders unaware of the full scope of the attack. Below is a video of Hamas entering and attacking the Reim Base.
7:31 AM - At Zikim Base, located 1.5 kilometers south of the Zikim beach, about 50 Hamas militants launch an attack. Seven Israeli soldiers are killed in combat that lasts until nearly 10:00 AM. Despite the intense assault, the IDF successfully prevents the base from being captured.
Aftermath of the infiltration:
7:39 AM - The IDF confirms that a number of terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and asks residents to remain indoors.
7:43 AM - Over an hour after the attack begins, Gaza Division commander Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld calls the command bunker at the Kiriya in Tel Aviv. He reports that the division's base in Re'im and the surrounding area are under heavy attack. Unable to fully describe the scope of the attack, Rosenfeld requests all available IDF forces be sent to assist.
The Kiriya issues the "Palestine Order," directing all emergency forces and units near the Gaza border to move south immediately. However, this order fails to account for the broad invasion aimed at conquering parts of southern Israel and taking over strategic junctions. As a result, many deployed forces are unaware of the risk of encountering enemy combatants en route to their assigned locations.
The "Palestine Order" proves inadequate for the current threat. Originally designed to counter tunnel infiltrations, it focuses on dealing with terrorists emerging from tunnels within Israel. It does not address the scenario of thousands of militants flowing into the country through multiple breach points along the border fence.
8:00 AM - Arriving at Tel Nof, N. is tasked with flying a group of paratroopers to the Gaza area. Upon arriving at Nebi Musa, he sees more paratroopers than expected, a clear sign of the scale of the mobilization. As he prepares for the flight, N. realizes the gravity of the situation, as they lack aerial support; most aircraft are concentrating on defending the border.
8:00 AM - Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives at the Kiriya for consultations with the IDF and the Defense Minister.
8:05 AM - The IDF declares its state of readiness for war. Reports emerge that the Chief of Staff of the IDF, Herzl Halevi, is holding an assessment and approving plans of action.
8:10 AM - Officers in the UAV squadron realize they cannot wait for instructions from Air Force Command or the Gaza Division. They contact the division and request permission to disregard standard procedures. The division grants them "free fire" authorization, allowing them to engage any targets that appear threatening.
Identifying targets proves challenging without structured command. UAV operators begin building their own "target bank." Many young officers operating the UAVs have friends and family fighting on the ground. Breaking protocol, they use personal cell phones to contact ground forces directly for target information. Some even join civilian WhatsApp groups from besieged communities to receive real-time intelligence.
8:17 AM - Rocket sirens blare across Jerusalem, central Israel, and the Be'er Sheva region as Hamas extends its barrage further into Israeli territory.
8:24 AM - The IDF begins retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.
8:34 AM - Defense Minister Gallant announces "Order 8," which is an immediate calling up of reservists. People begin to receive texts instructing them to return to the country and to head to bases.
"The call to arms reached us even here in New York. I bought a one-way ticket because there's no telling how long my country will need me," said Yotam Avrahami, a 31-year-old reservist from New York.
8:50 AM - N.’s helicopter is redirected to land at Saad airstrip. Moments before touchdown, N. receives warnings that Saad is under attack and that they must divert to another landing zone near Kibbutz Alumim.
8:57 AM - In Kibbutz Nir Oz, residents begin to report power cuts to the kibbutz as terrorists open fire. Several messages to the community group chat include:
Sharon: There's shooting by us. Sounds like they're trying to get in.
Hanna'le: I can hear terrorists in our house. We're in the safe room.
Eitan: They're trying to break in. HELP please.
The chat continues with more cries for help.
9:00 AM - At this point, Kibbutz Be'eri is effectively overrun by Hamas fighters. The fighting is intense as the local defense squad, made up of 11 standby members, continues to resist. By now, several members of this standby squad have already been killed. However, those who remain, along with armed kibbutz residents, form a defensive perimeter around key parts of the kibbutz, fighting desperately to prevent the Hamas militants from spreading further destruction.
As Israeli forces arrive, they attempt to engage but are forced to retreat after taking heavy casualties. In response to the escalating situation, Colonel Barak Hiram, who has a background in the elite Shaldag unit, is appointed to lead the defense operations. His arrival provides much-needed structure and leadership amid the chaos.
Simultaneously, Shaldag soldiers are deployed into Kibbutz Be'eri, joining the fight and offering crucial support to the local defenders. These special forces work in coordination with Hiram, using their training and experience to help regain some control over the kibbutz.
The video below showcases those operations by Shaldag soldiers.
9:10 AM - While approaching the new landing zone, N.'s lead helicopter detects enemy motorbikes, likely Hamas militants. The lead helicopter performs an emergency fuel tank drop, signifying a critical situation. Shortly after, the lead helicopter is hit by some sort of explosion, losing one engine. It manages to land under fire and all occupants evacuate. The helicopter is later destroyed after going up in flames.
Around 9:23 AM - Terrorists from Gaza begin taking hostages and transporting bodies back into the Strip. Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or are among those captured, as documented by videos taken at the time. The two were attending a party in Re'im when Hamas terrorists infiltrated the area. They attempted to hide and reported the situation via WhatsApp, sending their locations and warning that terrorists were attacking indiscriminately. Despite their calls for help, no assistance arrived for several hours.
9:25 AM - N. lands near Be’eri and Alumim despite the heavy fire surrounding the area. After the helicopter lands, the paratroopers disembark under constant enemy fire to join the fight on the ground. N. and his crew remain on the ground, waiting for the lead helicopter's crew, whose aircraft has been damaged and whose co-pilot is injured.
The lead helicopter’s crew, including the injured co-pilot, reaches N.'s helicopter safely. N.'s crew manages to evacuate both teams in a single helicopter. The injured co-pilot is later treated at Kaplan Hospital. The paratroopers who disembark earlier remain on the ground to continue fighting as N. and his team successfully withdraw from the combat zone.
9:28 AM - In addition to abducting people into the Strip, terrorists begin to kidnap people inside the various kibbutzim around the Strip. At this time, the army states that it is aware of two specific hostage situations, which later turn out to be the ones in Be'eri and Nir Oz. Special Forces from the IDF begin to operate in the area in an attempt to free hostages.
9:30 AM - Due to the chaos in the Kiriya command bunker and Southern Command, no orders are given to clear Hamas-controlled intersections. The 450th Combat Engineering Battalion, recognizing the urgency, takes initiative and deploys from their Yeruham base.
Near Tze'elim and Kerem Shalom, the battalion's bus halts after receiving intelligence about an ambush ahead. Lt. Col. Ran Canaan orders his 50 soldiers to abandon the vulnerable bus and continue on foot.
The battalion proceeds to clear captured intersections and the Nahal HaBesor bridge, covering several miles on foot to avoid prepared ambushes targeting vehicles.
10:01 AM - Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai gives an address, stating that there are 21 active zones of combat with terrorists from Gaza. He also confirms that the police are in a state of war. He dispatches SWAT, tactical police, and more units to the south to help the fighting.
10:18 AM - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issues a statement, declaring: "We are waging a historic battle of honor to defend Al-Aqsa." Videos surface of him leading prayers in his office, reportedly celebrating the attack's success.
10:30 AM - The IDF officially declares "Operation Iron Swords" (מבצע חרבות ברזל) as a response to Hamas' wide-scale surprise attack. This name marks the beginning of Israel's military counteroffensive against Hamas, as fighting intensifies across multiple locations, including Sderot, kibbutzim, and key military bases. At this time, Israel is also placed on war alert, and Defense Minister Gallant declares that Hamas has "made a grave mistake" by launching this war against Israel.
Sometime around 11:00 AM - A young Israeli officer, Captain A. of the Nahal Brigade's reconnaissance unit, realizes that he is now the highest-ranking officer in his area after most of the command structure is killed in an attack, including his commander Lt. Col. Yonatan "Brenash" Tzur. Captain A. makes the decision to bring in the newly developed Eitan Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), which had been previously denied for deployment in the Gaza Envelope.
Although the Eitan APCs are not yet fully operational, Captain A. orders them to the front lines. These modern armored vehicles, designed to carry up to 12 soldiers, become essential for rapid maneuvering and defense during the attack. Their speed and advanced protective systems allow Israeli forces to secure areas around vulnerable kibbutzim like Kerem Shalom, as well as assist in evacuating wounded soldiers under heavy fire.
Below is a photo of an Eitan
11:59 AM - Six hours into the attack, Southern Command realizes Hamas has breached the border at over 30 points, far exceeding their initial estimate. Despite this, they still lack a clear understanding of Hamas' goals and strategy. The command believes they can regain control of the entire southern region by nightfall. (In reality, this will take about three more days.)
As more videos of hostages being taken into Gaza are released on social media, the IDF implements a version of the controversial "Hannibal Directive." This authorizes extreme measures to prevent militants from returning to Gaza with hostages, even at risk to the hostages themselves. The Air Force acts to prevent movement to and from Gaza by bombing the border buffer zone. An estimated 1,000 militants are killed in the bombing.
12:09 PM - Prime Minister Netanyahu makes his first public address, declaring that Israel is now at war. He states: “We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack on the State of Israel and its citizens."
1:00 PM - Elite units like Shayetet 13 and the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit request air support in Hamas-occupied towns. Due to communication challenges, pilots rely on direct phone contact with ground forces for target information.
Over ten combat helicopters operate in the area. They receive orders via phone, with instructions such as "Bomb the gym at the Gaza Division headquarters in Camp Re’im where militants are barricaded."
Col. A., deputy commander of the 80th division, personally requests close air support near Kerem Shalom, reducing the usual safety distance between air and ground forces from 300 meters to just a few tens of meters.
1:03 PM - In Kibbutz Nir Oz, the situation remains dire as hostages are held and gunfire continues. The IDF and police begin securing the area, but many residents are still trapped in their safe rooms. Meanwhile, reinforcements begin to arrive in Kibbutz Be'eri, with 700 IDF soldiers entering the area by 6:00 PM. This marks the start of significant countermeasures aimed at halting the attacker’s progress.
4:20 PM - Tomer Bar, Commander of the Israeli Air Force, becomes aware of the massacre at the Supernova festival, nearly 10 hours after the attack begins. Due to strict communication protocols in the Kiriya, where the use of personal devices like smartphones and televisions are prohibited to avoid security breaches, real-time information about the attack does not reach Bar in time. While civilians are already receiving updates through social media and television, military leadership remains uninformed. This delay results in critical Air Force resources being misallocated to protect strategic assets rather than providing immediate support in the Gaza Envelope.
6:00 PM - In towns near the Gazan border, residents are informed that only one member of each household may be allowed to leave and collect supplies alongside soldiers or police. Many venture out in fear and find their towns and homes destroyed, with hundreds of bodies around the area.
7:59 PM - Sirens sound in central Israel yet again as Hamas fires a barrage of rockets. The sirens continue to go off every few minutes in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas until around 9:21 PM.
9:30 PM - In Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, the army works to bring together the living civilians in the kibbutz. They set up a protected area around a few fortified homes in the kibbutz with the goal of evacuating them.
As October 7th transitions into the early hours of the next day, Israel faces a transformed reality. The events of that day mark a critical juncture in the country's ongoing conflict with Hamas. Hours after the attack, Israel declares the Iron Swords War, signaling the beginning of a prolonged and complex conflict.
It takes 72 hours for Israel to regain control over the Gaza Envelope, where Hamas militants had infiltrated several communities, taken hostages, and caused widespread destruction. During this period, kibbutzim remain under siege as Israeli forces work around the clock to secure the area, rescue survivors, and evacuate civilians. The operation is extended and arduous, given the level of resistance from Hamas fighters.
By the next day, the conflict expands beyond Gaza, with rising tensions in Lebanon drawing Hezbollah into the confrontation and broadening the scope of the war. Fighting intensifies, and Israeli ground forces enter Gaza in the following weeks as part of the broader retaliation.
A year after the attack, the scars are still evident across Israeli society. While the war
continues with no immediate resolution, the Israeli government and military focus on learning from the events of October 7th to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This timeline serves as a record of the day's events and a reminder of the importance of vigilance, preparedness, and resilience in the face of unexpected threats.
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