An IDF investigation into the battle at Zikim Beach and nearby Kibbutz Zikim on October 7, now made public, reveals poor performance by IDF soldiers that contributed to the deadly outcome of 14 people murdered in restrooms and a shelter. This stands in contrast to the sharp and swift response by the community's civilian emergency response team, thanks to which no terrorists managed to infiltrate the border-adjacent kibbutz, no one was kidnapped, and the only casualty was actually a civilian.