IDF Concedes Security Failure at Kibbutz Sufa During October 7 Attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged on Sunday that it failed to protect Kibbutz Sufa during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, leaving the Gaza-border community to fight off dozens of terrorists without military support for nearly five hours.

The army’s investigation confirmed that local defenders members of the kibbutz security squad and armed civilians engaged about 50 heavily armed terrorists until IDF reinforcements finally arrived. Three residents were killed during the attack: Bernard Cowan, a dual Scottish-Israeli civilian, and security team members Ofir Erez and Ido Hudbara.

“The IDF failed in its mission to defend Kibbutz Sufa,” the military stated, while commending the bravery of the kibbutz’s defenders, who fought relentlessly despite being outnumbered and outgunned.

The timeline shows that at 6:45 a.m., the head of Sufa’s security squad warned that the Gaza border fence had been breached. Minutes before 7:00 a.m., four terrorists reached the kibbutz. Ofir Erez was killed near the entrance while trying to block their advance. By 7:30 a.m., additional terrorists had entered, splitting into groups to attack homes and search for civilians. Cowan was murdered in his home shortly thereafter.

Despite the dire situation, one of the kibbutz defenders managed to eliminate four terrorists. For the next three hours, the local team fought alone. By 10:30 a.m., another 30 terrorists stormed the kibbutz, sparking fierce gunfire. Hudbara fell in this phase of the battle.

It was not until around noon that elite LOTAR counterterrorism units and troops from the IDF’s 80th Edom Regional Division arrived. A combat helicopter was eventually deployed, striking several attackers. Reinforcements continued to arrive through the afternoon, clearing terrorists from homes in a dangerous house-to-house sweep. The kibbutz was declared secure at 6:30 p.m. nearly 12 hours after the first breach.

The IDF emphasized that the courage of Sufa’s defenders prevented an even greater tragedy. “Their actions saved countless lives,” a military spokesperson said.

This admission underscores both the heroism of local residents and the failures that left border communities vulnerable during the October 7 onslaught.

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