Kfar Aza massacre
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 massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel | |
Kfar Aza family home after the attack | |
Kfar Aza Site of the attack in Israel | |
| Location | Kfar Aza, Southern District, Israel |
| Coordinates | 31°29′1″N 34°32′2″E |
| Date | 7 October 2023 |
Attack type | Mass shooting, mass murder, decapitation (alleged), dismemberment, immolation |
| Deaths | 52 confirmed deaths; 20+ missing |
| Perpetrator |
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The kibbutz 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.
The attack is notable for claims of brutality in the form of beheadings, dismemberment, and victims having been burned alive. Claims by Israeli media and government sources advancing that 40 babies had been decapitated went viral. While a massacre of civilians did occur, a few of the most lurid claims, including the baby decapitations, were later found to be false. 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.