Zikim attack

Zikim attack
	Part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel
Date	7 October 2023
Location	Near Zikim, Southern District, Israel31°36′28″N 34°31′18″E / 31.60778°N 34.52167°E
Result	Hamas fails to capture the Zikim training base and Zikim kibbutz
Belligerents
Hamas	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Ahmed Musa	Lt. Col. Shay; Capt. Adir Abudi †; First Lt. Or Moses †; Col. Eitan Paz (Ashdod naval base commander)
Units involved
Al-Qassam Brigades Qassam naval commandos;	Israeli Defence Forces ; On the coast: ; Israeli Navy ; Squadron 916 Snapir unit; ; 51st Battalion, Golani Brigade At training base:; Officer staff of the Tavor company, Home Front search and rescue brigade At Yiftach:; 77th Battalion, 7th Brigade ; Outside kibbutz: ; Civilian security team
Strength
38 cross Israeli maritime border on boats, 16 of whom land on beach ; Dozens cross into Israel by land	At training base:; 14 soldiers in combat; 90 recruits and 30 administrative staff sheltering in place At Yiftach: 5 soldiers in combat; Majority of garrison sheltering in place On coast: 4 soldiers
Casualties and losses
At sea: 2 boats sunk; 38 killed in total:; At training base: 13–15 killed; At Yiftach: Multiple killed; On coast: 2–3 killed; Outside kibbutz: Multiple killed	At training base:; 7 killed; 7 wounded; At Yiftach:; 7 killed; Multiple wounded; On coast:; 17 civilians killed; 1 soldier killed; Outside kibbutz:; 2 wounded
	Zikim Site of the attack in Israel

As part of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, a military engagement took place near Zikim, Israel between Hamas militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). According to Haaretz, Hamas's goal was to capture Zikim's military training base. The Israeli navy prevented most Hamas militants from landing on the beach, although an estimated 11 militants landed from a vessel that went through. Fighting took place outside Zikim, at three military bases, and on the adjacent coastline. The garrison of the training base held out, but the other two bases were overrun, and a civilian security team prevented an incursion into the kibbutz. Hamas fighters also carried out a massacre on the beach, killing 17 civilian beachgoers.