Michael Ostrovsky
77,
Ofakim
The Morning of Simchat Torah put the security squad to the test when dozens of terrorists stormed the road next to the kibbutz. At the end of a seven-hour battle, the members of the security squad managed to kill dozens of terrorists and repel many others. Two members of the security squad were killed defending their home.
Terrorists on motorcycles. Security camera footage.
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Members of the kibbutz wake up on Saturday morning to Red Color alarms and enter the safe rooms
The kibbutz members hear the unusual noise of the falling of mortar bombs. Members of the security squad are called upon to begin arming themselves and equipping themselves with bullletproof vests. At the same time, the members of the kibbutz are instructed to keep quiet and lock the doors of their houses and safe rooms.
Emergency squad member Eran Tzoref climbs the highest hill in the kibbutz to scan the area. Tzoref notices a convoy of motorcycles and vans speeding toward the kibbutz while shouting in Arabic. He positions himself on the hill and starts shooting at them, hitting some of them, but more terrorists keep coming up the road. Another security squad member joins him, and they continue firing at the terrorists' vehicles.
Two motorcycles carrying terrorists arrive at the kibbutz fence. The terrorists trigger a charge that blows up the fence and forms a breach in it so that two cars carrying terrorists manage to get into the kibbutz. Additional security squad members hear the sounds of the explosions and head there.
About 30 terrorists settle near the kibbutz fence, and members of the security squad spread in front of them to prevent infiltration into residents' homes. Heavy exchanges of fire take place as the terrorists are equipped with grenades, RPGs, and mortar bombs. Ravshatz Baruch Cohen drives his pickup truck towards the terrorists who shoot at him, injuring him in the leg. Seconds after Baruch steps out of the vehicle, an RPG rocket is fired at the van. Security squad member Nadav Roth is also injured. More vans packed with terrorists enter the kibbutz during the morning and immediately join the battle against the security squad.
Some terrorists managed to infiltrate the kibbutz and open fire. After a battle lasting about an hour, the security squad fends them off. Security squad member Avi Fleischer is injured during the exchange near his home.
A member of the security squad, Yaron Ofir Mordechai, sees the message regarding the emergency in the kibbutz and drives from his father's house in Ramat Gan towards the kibbutz
Residents of the kibbutz, Dr. Doron Gal, Dr. Shani Casspi, and her husband Dror, arrive at the fighting zone along with other kibbutz members to rescue the wounded Baruch Cohen, Nadav Roth, and Avi Fleischer. They hoist the three into a vehicle and drive towards the helipad in Revivim for a helicopter to evacuate them to a hospital. The wounded Nadav Roth sits in the car and points his weapon out for fear of an ambush by more terrorists.
Contact with Yaron Ofir Mordechai is lost. His vehicle is found less than a mile from the kibbutz in a ditch on the side of Route 232 with the seat belt cut and blood stains on the seat in the car. He is defined as missing.
A rescue helicopter flies over Kibbutz Magan, the terrorists try to hit it with an RPG missile but miss it. It hovers around for a few minutes and eventually, to the dismay of the security squad members, does not land troops in the kibbutz and flies away with the aid
During the fighting and throughout the morning, the security squad tries to contact the defense forces requesting aid and backup - which does not arrive. They notice the bellowing smoke from the nearby Kibbutz Nir Oz and realize that other settlements in the vicinity are in a similar situation.
After about seven hours, during which dozens of terrorists were repelled, and the residents physically defended, IDF forces first entered the kibbutz. Accompanied by members of the security squad, they inspect every house and make sure there are no terrorists around. By the time the soldiers arrived, the terrorists who survived the battles had already left the kibbutz
Although the kibbutz was cleared of terrorists by the security squad as early as noon, the evacuation of residents was only possible the following day. After staying an entire day in their safe rooms, residents would gradually be evacuated to a hotel by the Dead Sea.
After being defined as missing for about six days, the body of Ofir Mordechai Yaron is found near the synagogue in Nir Oz
63-year-old Avraham Fleischer is laid to rest at Be'er Sheva cemetery
Avraham Fleischer
51-year-old Ofir Mordechai Yaron is laid to rest at the cemetery in Petah Tikva
Ofir Mordechai Yaron
המתחם האינטראקטיבי של מפת העוטף ב-7 באוקטובר 2023 נועד לתעד ולהנציח את האירועים שהתרחשו ביישובי עוטף עזה באמצעות תיעודים מזמן אמת, דקה אחר דקה.
הפרויקט בהליכי בנייה ותחקיר, בשלבים הבאים יתווספו נקודות רבות על המפה, לרבות בסיסי צה”ל, הרחבת אזורי המסיבות והדרכים המובילות לעוטף.
לפרטים נוספים וליצירת קשר לחצו כאן
אזהרה: התוכן מכיל תיאורים ותיעודים קשים לצפייה