Kfar Aza massacre

Kfar Aza massacre
Part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel
Kfar Aza family home after the attack
Kfar Aza is located in Israel
Kfar Aza
Kfar Aza
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Site of the attack in Israel
LocationKfar Aza, Southern District, Israel
Coordinates31°29′1″N 34°32′2″E / 31.48361°N 34.53389°E / 31.48361; 34.53389
Date7 October 2023; 13 months ago (2023-10-07)
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, decapitation (alleged), dismemberment, immolation
Deaths52 confirmed deaths; 20+ missing[1]
Perpetrator al-Qassam Brigades
 National Resistance Brigades[a]

On 7 October 2023, around 70 Hamas militants attacked Kfar Aza, a kibbutz about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the border with the Gaza Strip, massacring residents and abducting several hostages.

Kfar Aza had more than 700 residents prior to the attack, and it took two days for the Israel Defense Forces to regain full control of the area. While the exact total of Israelis killed is yet unknown, as of 15 October 52 were listed as dead, and a further 20 or more were missing.[3][4]

The attack is notable for claims of brutality in the form of beheadings,[5] dismemberment, and victims having been burned alive.[6][7] Claims by Israeli media and government sources advancing that 40 babies had been decapitated went viral.[8][9][10][11] While a massacre of civilians did occur, a few of the most lurid claims, including the baby decapitations, were later found to be false.[8][12][9][13] Evidence provided by Bituah Leumi, Israel's national social security agency, showed that of the 46 civilians that were killed in Kfar Aza, the youngest was 14 years old.[14]

  1. ^ "IDF: Dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon, at least nine crossed into Israeli territory". Ynetnews. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023 – via www.ynetnews.com.
  2. ^ الانترنت, الحرية-مجلة التقدميين العرب على. خلال بيان لها قبل قليل.. كتائب المقاومة الوطنية (قوات الشهيد عمر القاسم) الجناح العسكري للجبهة الديمقراطية [During a statement a short while ago...the National Resistance Brigades (Forces of the Martyr Omar Al-Qasim), the military wing of the Democratic Front] (in Arabic). مجلة التقدميين العرب على الانترنت. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. ^ Tzuri, Matan (15 October 2023). "A quarter of the residents of Nir Oz are either dead or missing". Ynet. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ Spencer, Richard (13 October 2023). "They came at dawn: inside the Kfar Aza kibbutz massacre". The Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference cbs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee (18 October 2023). "Young couple and baby burned by terrorists in Kfar Aza home fight for their lives". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ^ Oliphant, Roland (10 October 2023). "Hamas slaughtered babies and children in Kfar Aza kibbutz massacre". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b "'40 beheaded babies': Deconstructing the rumor at the heart of the information battle between Israel and Hamas". Le Monde.fr. 3 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NBCnews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "What we actually know about the viral report of beheaded babies in Israel". Sky News. 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  11. ^ Chance, Matthew; Greene, Richard Allen; Berlinger, Joshua (12 October 2023). "Israeli official says government cannot confirm babies were beheaded in Hamas attack". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference HaaAzz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Israeli personnel gave false information about 7 October attack crimes - report". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths". France 24. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.


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