The IDF failed to defend Moshav Ein Habesor during the October 7 massacre, while members of the moshav's emergency response squad fought effectively and bravely, the military's probe found on Friday.
The probe noted the bravery of soldiers in the IDF Golani Brigade's 51st Battalion operating in the area at the time, who located and killed many terrorists in the area, while suffering casualties.
However, the battalion was constrained by the volume of terrorist infiltrations across multiple locations, as well as by damage to command and control systems at the brigade and battalion levels, which restricted its ability to defend its positions.
The probe found that approximately 16 terrorists participated in the attack on Moshav Ein Habesor, and three terrorists were wounded in the battle.
Terrorists wounded two moshav residents; however, they received medical treatment after they were evacuated by moshav residents, including members of the emergency response squad, rather than IDF combat medics. The military praised these residents for their ability to efficiently conduct medical evacuations while under enemy fire.
Members of the emergency response squad and residents continued to secure the moshav for days following the October 7 attack, with "very few IDF soldiers" arriving to reinforce the boundaries of the community.
However, the IDF found that after the terrorists were removed from the moshav, the IDF and Border Police withdrew the remaining terrorists from the area.
Moshav Ein Habesor reacts to the probe's findings
After the investigation's findings were published, the moshav thanked the IDF for its investigation, as well as for the apology for failing to protect the community during the October 7 massacre.
"We know that our communal revival, the revival of the Gaza border communities, and the revival of the State of Israel rely first and foremost on the return of the communities to their homes and the return of all the murdered hostages' remains to be buried in Israel. Moshav Ein Habesor will continue to stand firm and assist to the best of its ability in the rehabilitation processes of the council and the region," the moshav added.