Key Facts
- Date
- 7 October 2023
- Civilian residents killed
- 27 in city; 47 total across Negev
- Police officers killed
- 6
- Militants killed
- 22
- Weapons used by attackers
- Assault rifles, RPGs, grenades
Strategic Narrative Overview
Hamas and allied militants entered Ofakim armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and grenades. Fighting broke out within the city as Israeli Police officers and eventually Israel Defense Forces engaged the attackers. Twenty-seven residents were killed inside the city during the battle itself. Additional residents of Ofakim were killed at other locations across the Negev region as the broader October 7 assault unfolded simultaneously across southern Israel.
01 / The Origins
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale coordinated surprise attack across southern Israel, targeting multiple communities in the Gaza Envelope and beyond. The assault was widely condemned internationally as an act of terrorism. Ofakim, a city in Israel's Southern District roughly 20 kilometers west of Beersheba, was among the urban centers directly attacked by Hamas militants and fighters from allied armed groups.
03 / The Outcome
Israeli security forces ultimately killed 22 militants during the battle. In total, 47 Ofakim residents lost their lives—some during the urban fighting, others at sites elsewhere in the Negev. The battle ended with Israeli forces regaining control of the city. The broader Hamas attack of which this was a part triggered a major Israeli military campaign in Gaza that continued beyond the immediate engagement.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.