IDF failed to defend Paga Outpost during Oct. 7, opening door for terrorists to massacre at Be'eri

The IDF released a probe on Thursday finding that the Paga Outpost (Magen Be'eri) was not prepared for the October 7 attack, lacked proper equipment and operational readiness, and failed in its mission to defend Kibbutz Be'eri. The investigation details systemic failures, including inadequate training for a simultaneous surprise attack, destroyed defensive components, and ineffective IAF strikes due to coordination gaps. Twenty-two soldiers were killed at the outpost, and two were taken hostage.

The IDF released a comprehensive probe on Thursday, September 24, 2026, concluding that the Paga Outpost, officially known as Magen Be'eri, failed in its mission to defend Kibbutz Be'eri during the October 7, 2023, massacre. The investigation found that the outpost was not prepared for a terror infiltration, lacked proper combat equipment, operational readiness, and infrastructure. Soldiers had primarily dealt with local disturbances near the border fence, and their training did not include a scenario of a simultaneous surprise attack across the Gaza border. The probe drew seven main conclusions, including that the terrorists succeeded in destroying a significant portion of the sector's defensive components, and that Israel Air Force strikes were largely ineffective due to coordination gaps with ground forces. Twenty-two soldiers were killed at the outpost, 18 were wounded, and two were taken hostage. The report also named 14 soldiers who fell defending the outpost. The probe noted that acts of individual heroism took place despite the systemic failures. In December 2024, the IDF killed Fahmi Salami, the Hamas commander responsible for the attack on the outpost.