Early on the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists penetrated into Israeli territory after breaching the border fence. Lt. Col. Yaron Buskila, an operations officer in the reserves, headed for his base as soon as he heard of the incursion.
Buskila first encountered terrorists on his way to the Gaza Division’s headquarters. They ambushed his force from the foliage along the roads and from elsewhere, wearing IDF uniforms and using IDF equipment that they had captured. Buskila’s force managed to unblock the roads and take a toll on the terrorists while being careful not to hit our own troops or civilians.
Once Buskila’s force had broken through on its way to the Gaza Division’s headquarters, the base itself came under attack. Some 40 terrorists made their way in. The terrorists were armed with rifles, RPGs, knives, and grenades. They were prepared to blockade themselves and battle inside a large office area like the divisional headquarters. The Israeli force, aided by a helicopter, managed to fend off many terrorists but others had begun to hide inside the building.
This was the beginning of the battle’s third phase: fighting from room to room, inside the post, to clear it of terrorists. Combat officers fought alongside desk officers, senior officers alongside footsoldiers, until the post was safe inside and all the terrorists there were dead. The battle lasted five or six hours because the terrorists had hidden well, in concealed corners and under camouflage nets.
Lt. Col. Buskila led the fighting coolheadedly, including the intricate coordination of helicopter fire, and he succeeded in repelling the terrorists, clearing the base, and preventing it from falling into the hands of Hamas. According to Buskila: “The fighting spirit, the battle readiness, the rapid enlistment of the reserves, and the turning of the tide of battle all worked exceptionally well.”
