IDF probe reveals Urim base lacked preparedness during Hamas attack

On October 7, 2023, the Urim base in Israel was mistakenly targeted by Hamas militants who had intended to capture a different military base located 16 kilometers from the Gaza border. This unfortunate incident occurred due to the terrorists taking a wrong turn at Urim junction, leading them to the less fortified Urim base instead. According to an investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Urim base was not appropriately prepared for such an extensive infiltration and attack. While the soldiers stationed there were eventually able to fend off the attack, the investigation revealed several critical shortcomings in the base's defensive and operational protocols, including an inadequate response plan for large-scale attacks versus isolated incidents. Col. Asher Benishti, chief of the Home Front Command’s Southern District, oversaw the IDF investigation. The probe revealed that defense protocols in place did acknowledge potential infiltration events; however, they failed to adequately consider an actual large-scale breach. Prior training drills had only focused on smaller incidents, leaving the soldiers unprepared for the magnitude of the assault they faced. Further insights from the investigation indicated that only seven of the twelve defensive positions were manned at the time of the attack, which undoubtedly contributed to the chaos that unfolded during the early morning hours of the assault. The assault commenced at 7:31 a.m., and though preparations failed to account for the scale of the threat posed by the Hamas forces, soldiers present did their utmost to maintain control of the base. Unfortunately, the terrorists carried out a killing spree within the base before being completely neutralized by the Israeli forces. The situation escalated when disjointed communication among officers led to confusion, and some troops arriving at the base were unaware that an invasion was underway. A deputy district commander was even shot after being mistakenly identified as a terrorist, which highlights a severe breakdown in identification protocols. The Urim base is classified as a “rear base,” meaning it traditionally falls outside the jurisdiction of the Gaza Division, which partly explains its lack of emergency preparedness for this level of threat. The proximity and intended target of the attackers suggests that the heightened readiness protocols were likely reserved for facilities viewed as critical military intelligence hubs, such as the nearby Yarkon Base, which housed the Military Intelligence Directorate's Unit 8200. The lessons learned from this investigation could prove vital for future military readiness and operational protocols, particularly, ensuring that all bases, regardless of classification, are adequately equipped and prepared to respond to any size threat.