A Hamas seaborne assault on Zikim during the 7 October 2023 attack resulted in two military bases overrun and 17 civilians killed on the beach.
Key Facts
- Date of attack
- 7 October 2023
- Hamas militants landed
- ~11 (from one vessel that broke through)
- Civilian beachgoers killed
- 17
- Military bases overrun
- 2 of 3 engaged
- Hamas objective
- Capture Zikim military training base
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As part of this broader attack, Hamas militants attempted a seaborne infiltration near Zikim, aiming to capture the local military training base by landing fighters on the coast.
The Israeli navy intercepted most of the approaching vessels, but approximately 11 militants came ashore from one craft that evaded interception. Fighting erupted at three military bases and along the coastline. The training base garrison held its position, but Hamas overran the other two bases. On the beach, militants massacred 17 civilian beachgoers.
A civilian security team successfully prevented Hamas from entering the kibbutz of Zikim itself. The engagement highlighted both the partial effectiveness of Israeli naval defenses and the vulnerability of coastal positions during the broader 7 October attack, with significant loss of civilian life on the beach.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent