Holit attack

Holit attack
Part of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel
Hayim Katsman (far left), a peace activist killed in the Hamas attack, seen here volunteering in the West Bank to ease tensions between settlers and Palestinians.
Holit class=notpageimage| Site of the attack in Israel
Native name	הטבח בחולית
Location	Holit, Southern District, Israel
Coordinates	31°13′48″N 34°19′36″E / 31.23000°N 34.32667°E / 31.23000; 34.32667
Date	7 October 2023; 7 months ago (2023-10-07)
Attack type	Mass shooting, mass murder, war crime
Deaths	15 (12 residents, 3 foreign workers)
Injured	8 (recovered), others unreported
Victims	Hostages: 7 (3 residents, 4 Bedouin employees) (5 released, 2 still held)
Perpetrator	Hamas (Al-Qassam Brigades)

On 7 October 2023, the Hamas Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Al-Qassam Brigades) attacked Holit, a kibbutz close to the border fence with the Gaza Strip, as part of a surprise attack on Israel.

Twelve residents including one member of the security team were killed, Three foreign kibbutz employees, two from Nepal and a Moldavian, were also killed.

A resident, whose parents were killed, and a Thai employee, were injured. They recovered, with the employee subsequently returning to Thailand. Four members of a family were injured when a grenade failed to breach their safe room, but shrapnel entered through the space under the door.

Seven hostages were taken captive. Three were released on the day of the attack just before reaching the Gaza border fence. An additional two were released during the Israeli–Palestinian prisoner exchange. Two hostages remain in captivity.

Tanks from the Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) Paran Brigade, and the Shaldag Unit, only regained control of the kibbutz after midnight, clearing it of militants either by killing or chasing them away.