‘We Are Alive Because of These Heroes’: Civilians Defended Moshav Alone From Hamas Onslaught

Jerusalem, 12 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- The Israeli military failed to protect Moshav Pri Gan on October 7, as members of a civilian security team risked their lives to prevent a massacre, according to a report released by the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday.

“The IDF did not provide adequate defense. The terrorists were repelled due to the heroism and mutual responsibility shown by civilian responders from Shlomit and other local forces,” the report said.

The report describes a harrowing scene: ten heavily armed terrorists infiltrated the agricultural community of approximately 250 near the Gaza border that morning, intending to kill residents and take hostages. But their plans were upended by a small, hastily assembled force of local defenders, including volunteer fighters from the nearby village of Shlomit, a community police officer, and a few residents of the moshav.

Together, they pushed the terrorists back into Gaza — alone.

Four defenders were killed, including three from Shlomit: Reuven Chicheportiche, Aviad Cohen, and Bechor Sweed. A police officer from nearby Moshav Yevul was also killed.

For the survivors, the battle is not over. Many are still recovering — from bullet wounds, surgeries, and trauma. In an interview with The Press Service of Israel in January 2024, members of Shlomit’s civilian security squad described the chaos that changed their lives forever.

“We knew they needed help. We didn’t hesitate,” said Oz Sasson, who was shot in the thigh during the firefight.

He and other Shlomit squad members raced into Pri Gan as the attack unfolded. Their arrival prevented the terrorists from breaching homes where families were hiding in panic — in one case, behind nothing more than a partially shut safe room window.

The first casualty was Boaz Biran, a paramedic and fighter, shot in the chest. Sasson was hit moments later but managed to radio for backup. Michael Gotesman and Yehuda Rabinovich answered the call, handing Shlomit’s defenses to others and speeding toward the battle.

As soon as they arrived, gunfire erupted. Gotesman was hit in the chest and arm.

“I couldn’t even lift my gun,” he recalled. “I just hoped to stay conscious long enough to keep breathing.”

As wounded defenders lay exposed, more reinforcements poured in from Shlomit. Among them were Aviad Cohen and Oz Glik. Near a fortified home, Cohen was shot while trying to protect a trapped family. Chicheportiche, the team’s commander, was gunned down attempting to pull him to safety.

Bechor Sweed wasn’t supposed to be there. Unarmed, visiting his parents for the holiday, he heard about the fighting and ran to help. He was ambushed on the way — and fought the terrorists with his bare hands before being killed.

The battle raged for nearly two hours. Only after the terrorists had retreated did troops from the army’s Caracal Battalion arrive. No Pri Gan residents were killed or taken hostage.

“We are alive because of these heroes,” said residents of Pri Gan in a statement. “Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

All surviving members of the Shlomit squad are still undergoing physical and emotional rehabilitation.

“These men crossed village lines and stood in the breach. Their actions reflect the deepest values of Israeli society,” a Shlomit community statement said.

“We’d do it again,” said Rabinovich. “All of us would. Even knowing the cost — we would do it again.”

Thursday’s report is the latest in a series of detailed army probes — summaries of which have been released in recent weeks — of how some 5,000 terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad managed to attack numerous Israeli communities and overrun the army’s border positions. The army’s chain of command broke amid the chaos and soldiers were outnumbered.

The investigations found that the army misunderstood Hamas’s intentions for years, and as October 7 approached, intelligence about the looming attack was misinterpreted. The military was also more focused on threats from Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The IDF probes only deal with issues of operations, intelligence and command, not decisions made by the political echelon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted calls for a state commission of inquiry, saying he opposes a “politically biased” probe. Critics accuse Netanyahu of delaying the inquiry and trying to water down its mandate.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 53 remaining hostages, more than 30 are believed to be dead.