IDF investigation finds defense failure at outpost near Be’eri on October 7 — Jerusalem Post
A military investigation by the Israel Defense Forces found that during the October 7, 2023 attack, the IDF failed to fulfill its mission of defending the Paga outpost, officially known as Magen-Be’eri. The outpost area came under the control of the attackers, who also infiltrated the neighboring Be’eri kibbutz in Israel, The Jerusalem Post reports.
According to the investigation’s findings, the unit at the outpost was not properly prepared to carry out its mission. The problems concerned combat equipment, the readiness of defensive positions, and infrastructure for conducting combat. At the same time, the IDF noted the actions of soldiers and junior commanders who demonstrated personal courage during the fighting.
Investigation findings
The attack on Paga was part of a large-scale assault: hundreds of attackers infiltrated through numerous routes and caught Israeli military personnel by surprise. Before that, the soldiers had mainly dealt with local incidents near the border fence. Their training did not envisage a scenario of a simultaneous surprise attack along the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, including a raid on an outpost or the Be’eri kibbutz.
The report also states that the attackers targeted intelligence-gathering assets and a tank platoon that was meant to assist in the defense. This made it possible to destroy a significant portion of the sector’s defensive components. Most Israeli Air Force strikes in the outpost area proved ineffective due to coordination problems with ground forces.
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Casualties and course of the battle
During the attack on the Paga outpost, 22 Israeli servicemen were killed and another 18 were wounded. The attackers took two soldiers hostage and transported them to the Gaza Strip. According to the investigation’s findings, the deaths of commanders in battle affected decision-making and the management of the defense, while the company commander was unable to reach the command post.
The attack began at 6:29 a.m. on October 7, when sirens sounded in the area. At about 6:55 a.m., nine attackers entered the outpost through a security post for armored personnel carriers. They split into three groups and attacked the mortar position, the entrance to the outpost, and the defenders from several directions. Some Israeli equipment was hit by anti-tank missiles and a drone carrying munitions.
In December 2024, the IDF and the Israel Security Agency reported the elimination of Fahmi Salami, a Hamas unit commander who was described as the leader of the group that attacked the Paga outpost.
