DAY 576 OF THE WAR: Two Soldiers Killed in Gaza; Houthi Missile Strikes Ben Gurion Airport; Foreign Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel; Thousands of Reservists Mobilized
Tel Aviv Diary, May 4, 2025
DAY 576 OF THE WAR: Two soldiers killed in Gaza, Houthis missile strikes Ben Gurion Airport, foreign airlines cancel flights to Israel, thousands of reservists mobilized.
It’s hard to believe that a difficult, depressing Yom Ha’Atzmaut weekend could be followed by something even more devastating, but this week began on an even darker note. News last night opened once again, with the painful words “Hutar Lepirsum.” (authorized for publication). Once again, IDF soldiers were killed in Gaza over Shabbat.
This time, the fallen were Captain Noam Ravid (23), from Sha'arei Tikva, an officer in the Yahalom Unit, Combat Engineering Corps, and Staff Sergeant Yaly Seror, (20), from Omer, also from the same unit. The two were killed after entering a tunnel that had a concealed explosive device, apparently detonated remotely. As news of their deaths was released, it was also reported that tens of thousands of reservists had received call-up orders for another round of reserve duty.
Tensions escalated further with a missile launched by the Houthis that managed to evade interception—marking a troubling shift. Since Israel resumed military operations in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 27 missiles at Israeli territory; until now, all had been intercepted. Unfortunately, that changed today.
Three missiles had been launched at Israel by the Houthis on Friday—two aimed at the north and one at the Dead Sea region. Then, on Saturday morning, residents of Jerusalem and the surrounding area were jolted awake by air raid sirens, triggered by another missile launched from Yemen.
This morning, as I sat listening to the news and began writing this update, I received an alert from one of my Telegram channels: a missile had once again been fired from Yemen, this time toward central Israel. Minutes later, a Homeland Command notification appeared, in line with the new policy of issuing early alerts—allowing people to prepare without immediately rushing to shelters. My son was already awake. We woke Amy, leashed Milo, our dog, and waited. Three minutes later, the air raid sirens began to wail, and we made our way to the shelter beneath our building.
For us, it was just another visit to the shelter—but strategically, this was a significant development. For the first time since hostilities resumed, a Houthi missile was not intercepted. More troubling still, the latest missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport—Israel’s most critical and vulnerable economic hub. The missile struck an open area close to Terminal 3. While no aircraft were damaged, seven people sustained light injuries from shrapnel, and air traffic was briefly disrupted. The real concern now is how foreign airlines will respond.
Within minutes of the incident, an Air India flight less than an hour from landing turned around and returned to India. In a matter of hours, most of the foreign carriers announced the suspension of flights to Israel. El Al stock surged in response, as investors anticipated the airline would once again become the country’s sole international carrier.
As of now, 20 airlines have cancelled their flights to Israel for the next few days, including major US airlines, United and Delta. Whether these cancellations will extend into weeks or even months remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Israel is expected to respond to the Houthis. The challenge will be identifying targets not already being struck by American forces.
IDF CHIEF OF STAFF WARNS: RENEWED FIGHTING MAY ENDANGER HOSTAGES
The Security Cabinet convened tonight to discuss the potential extension of military operations in Gaza. As I mentioned above, such action would require the mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists. At last night’s weekly demonstrations, recently released hostages urged the government not to escalate the war, calling instead for a negotiated agreement—which they described as the only viable path to securing the release of those still held captive.
This evening, it was reported that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned the PM and other ministers in a recent sensitive security meeting, that a return to intensive fighting could endanger the lives of all remaining hostages
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ISRAEL AIDS SYRIAN DRUZE; WARNS AL-JULANI REGIME
This weekend, Israel actively intervened to support the Druze community in southern Syria. An Israeli helicopter delivered humanitarian aid to the Syrian Druze in the Sweida region. Additionally, the government also issued a warning to the Syrian regime not to launch attacks against the Druze. The IDF also undertook a series of attacks on military targets in Syria. Still, Israel’s broader strategy in Syria—and the exact boundaries of its red lines—remain undefined.
TEACHERS’ STRIKE OVER SURPRISE PAY CUTS
This morning, elementary and middle school teachers staged a strike, in response to unexpected salary cuts. The protest was triggered by a government budget agreement that reduced public sector wages by 3.3%, opting to spare ministry budgets instead. Teachers had been assured that their salaries would be exempt from the cuts, but when April paychecks arrived on May 1st, they found their wages had been reduced by an average of 3%.
The strike officially ended at 10 a.m. after the labor court declined to declare the action illegal but called for its early conclusion and urged both sides to enter negotiations to resolve the dispute.
This evening, the teacher’s union and government came to a new agreement. Its not clear whether all of the teachers are going to follow the decision of the union and return to work.
TRUMP STRIKES AGAIN
In a clear parallel to recent events in Canada, Australia’s conservative party—once the front-runner and known for its strong pro-Israel stance—was defeated by the current left-leaning government. What changed? Much of the public anger aimed at Donald Trump appeared to transfer onto the conservative party, which was increasingly seen as aligned with Trump.
SUMMARY OF THE IDF’S FINDING IN THE PROBE INTO OCTOBER 7 ATTACK
The internal IDF investigation into the events at Zikim beach and nearby Kibbutz Zikim on October 7, 2023, revealed several critical failures by the military. The probe concluded that the IDF "failed in its mission to protect" civilians at Zikim Beach. This failure was primarily attributed to the military not having prepared for a widespread attack of this nature and difficulties in establishing an accurate picture of the situation due to the collapse of the Gaza Division's command and control.
Key findings include:
Catastrophic leadership failures, faulty equipment, and a lack of initiative on the part of IDF soldiers and commanders.
Despite having no numerical disadvantage against the initial Hamas terrorists on the beach, IDF forces faltered, and their response was marred by poor tactical decisions and avoidance of engagement.
Specifically, seven Golani soldiers retreated from their position at the beach parking lot as terrorists approached, which was described as an outright flight. They left behind civilians hiding in bathrooms and shelters. The probe stated these soldiers acted wrongly both "professionally and ethically" and called their actions a "massive failure".
The soldiers who retreated did not risk their lives or strive to engage in close combat with the enemy. Their stated reasons for retreating included perceived intense fire nearby and a belief they were greatly outnumbered, although they were seven soldiers facing ten terrorists. They also claimed they were attempting to reposition to a more advantageous, higher location.
The retreat of the soldiers left civilians defenseless, resulting in at least 14 of the 17 Israelis on the beach being killed by terrorists after the soldiers withdrew. The terrorists then used the soldiers' abandoned van to travel towards Kibbutz Zikim.
There was a critical breakdown in communication, including a squad commander's malfunctioning radio. For nine critical minutes, the soldier assigned to relay battlefield reports at the Zikim base left his post for shelter, leaving no one monitoring the radio or coordinating a response. There was also zero operational communication between the Gaza Division’s northern brigade and the IDF’s Gaza naval command for 40 hours.
Critical intelligence gaps existed, and front-line troops were not informed of warning signs detected hours earlier. Mid-level commanders were also not given key intelligence. Despite this, one Ashdod Naval Base commander made a crucial independent decision to reposition a naval vessel and raise readiness levels, which helped prevent terrorists from reaching Ashkelon and Ashdod beaches and strategic sites.
Insufficient IDF response at Zikim Beach because it wasn't designated a "vital asset" despite its proximity to Gaza and population.
Seven Israeli bodies were left in a shelter on Zikim beach for an entire week after the attack before being recovered, which the probe called a "severe error".
In contrast to the military failures, the Kibbutz Zikim alert squad provided a swift and effective response, successfully preventing any terrorists from entering the community and saving the kibbutz.
Despite the scale of the failures, no commanders were dismissed or disciplined as a result of this probe. The IDF acknowledged that the seven Golani soldiers who retreated were not penalized; most completed their service and were released, while two were discharged due to injury or combat stress reaction. The timing of the probe's release, long after the event, has been criticized as potentially allowing officials to finish their service without facing discipline.
Narrative of the Events
On the morning of October 7, 2023, alongside a barrage of over 1,000 rockets, 38 Hamas terrorists set out from Gaza in seven speedboats aiming for Israeli bases, Zikim Beach, and strategic facilities. The Ashdod Naval Base chief, despite receiving reassurances that detected signs were likely just a drill, independently raised readiness and repositioned a naval vessel. This decision proved crucial later.
The Israeli Navy engaged the incoming boats, destroying several and killing many terrorists at sea. However, some terrorists managed to reach the Israeli coast. Around 6:45 a.m., five terrorists landed on Zikim Beach, followed shortly by seven more at 6:48 a.m.
Meanwhile, a squad of seven Golani soldiers arrived at Zikim Beach at 6:44 a.m. and met civilians who were sheltering from the rocket fire in bathrooms and a bomb shelter. The soldiers told the civilians to stay put and advanced towards the sea. When the terrorists began firing, the soldiers, at a distance of about 110 meters with limited visibility, spotted them and withdrew to the bathroom area at 6:46 a.m.. One soldier attempted to return fire but was unsuccessful.
The terrorists advanced, murdering two fishermen near the sunshades. The soldiers, having lost sight of the terrorists, decided at 6:47 a.m. to withdraw further back to the parking lot, leaving behind the 20 civilians in the bathroom and bomb shelter. They sought an elevated position but their view was blocked. When terrorists spotted them in the parking lot, they opened fire and murdered another civilian there. Five soldiers withdrew further south to the sand dunes, for unclear reasons moving past civilians hiding there. The terrorists followed, opening fire and wounding one soldier; another suffered combat stress reaction. Navy shelling also occurred nearby.
The terrorists then moved on the civilians left behind, murdering seven in the bathroom and another seven in the bomb shelter. One soldier, attempting to rejoin his commander, ran towards the bathroom where the terrorists were and was killed.
At 6:54 a.m., six terrorists advanced on foot toward Kibbutz Zikim, while another four took control of the Golani soldiers' van at 6:57 a.m. and also headed toward the kibbutz.
At 6:40 a.m., alerted by the Ashdod Naval Base, the chief of Kibbutz Zikim’s civil defense squad mobilized the 11-member alert team. Armed and trained, they took up positions. At 7:04 a.m., a member of the alert squad identified the stolen IDF van approaching and opened fire as terrorists exited. The other terrorists on foot also arrived. The alert squad exchanged fire with the terrorists, joined later by the Golani company commander who arrived from elsewhere. Two terrorists were killed. The alert squad continued fighting, despite two members being wounded by grenades.
At 8:20 a.m., an off-duty Shin Bet officer passing by on a nearby road exchanged fire with the terrorists and was killed. Some terrorists took his car and drove toward Zikim Base. Civilians fleeing from a party also came under fire nearby. At 8:45 a.m., a Maglan commando platoon arrived, alerted by their commander who lived in the kibbutz. They engaged the terrorists, killing two. At this point, the remaining terrorists withdrew, abandoning their plan to capture the kibbutz.
After the initial battle, troops scanned the beach but failed to find all the bodies. The area was not fully secured for more than a week. Over the following days, further exchanges of fire occurred in the Zikim area, resulting in more terrorist deaths and Israeli casualties, including three Maglan commandos killed on October 11. The bodies of seven civilians murdered in the bomb shelter were only found and removed on October 13, a week after they were killed.
The kibbutz leadership highlighted the bravery of the alert squad and residents who saved the kibbutz. They called for a state commission of inquiry into the overall October 7 failures and demanded full implementation of defense measures for Zikim.
Timeline of Key Events
5:30 AM:”Dawn alert" drill conducted routinely with minimal forces.
5:43 AM: Senior Navy officers tell the Ashdod commander that detected signs are likely just a "Hamas drill" and not to move forces.
6:29 AM: Hamas rocket barrage begins. Soldier assigned to relay reports at Zikim base leaves post for shelter. 38 terrorists in seven speedboats set out from Gaza.
~6:30 AM: Sector's field medical post leaves the area.
6:36 AM: First speedboat crosses Israel's maritime border.
6:39 AM: First speedboat destroyed by Navy patrol boat; four terrorists killed.
6:40 AM: Second speedboat reaches coast near a shooting range; three terrorists disembark. Ashdod Naval Base notifies Kibbutz Zikim's civil defense squad of seaborne infiltration.
6:42 AM: Kibbutz security team begins taking up posts. Golani soldiers in a van head for the logistics base, then towards the beach.
6:43 AM: Third speedboat destroyed by Navy patrol boat; seven terrorists killed. 32 civilians sheltering at Zikim Beach.
6:44 AM: Seven Golani soldiers reach the bathroom at Zikim Beach and tell civilians to stay put.
6:45 AM: Fourth speedboat arrives at Zikim Beach; five terrorists disembark.
6:46 AM: Soldiers spot terrorists and withdraw to the bathroom area.
6:47 AM: Soldiers decide to withdraw further towards the parking lot, leaving civilians behind.
6:48 AM: Sixth speedboat lands on Zikim Beach; seven terrorists aboard. Navy patrol boat shells terrorists on the beach, killing two.
6:51 AM: Soldier Sgt. Dvir Lisha runs towards the bathroom where terrorists are located and is killed.
6:52 AM: Seventh and last speedboat docks near an IDF logistics base; four terrorists killed by patrol boat fire. Remaining two terrorists breach the base and are killed by Golani soldiers.
6:54 AM: Six terrorists from the beach advance on foot towards Kibbutz Zikim.
6:57 AM: Four terrorists take control of the Golani soldiers' van and head toward Kibbutz Zikim.
7:04 AM: Kibbutz alert squad member identifies and opens fire on the stolen IDF van approaching the kibbutz.
~7:20 AM: Golani company commander arrives and joins the local security team; two terrorists killed.
~8:00 AM: Terrorists hurl grenades at the kibbutz security post, wounding two.
8:20 AM: Shin Bet officer Michael Ben Moshe arrives on a nearby road, exchanges fire with terrorists, and is killed.
8:45 AM: Maglan commandos arrive at Kibbutz Zikim and engage terrorists, killing two. Remaining terrorists withdraw.
~9:30 AM: Two terrorists from the fifth speedboat killed by Navy shelling.
12:30 AM: Paratrooper troops scan the beach, find some bodies, but are dispatched elsewhere.
11:00 PM: Other paratroopers dispatched to protect Zikim.
October 8: Two terrorists killed by Navy shelling and ground troops near Zikim Beach.
October 10: One terrorist killed near the oil facility; one soldier wounded.
October 11: Maglan commandos exchange fire with two terrorists in a bomb shelter near Shikma stream; three soldiers killed, seven wounded. Both terrorists killed.
October 13: Bodies of seven civilians murdered in the beach bomb shelter are found and removed.
After October 7: Some Golani soldiers who retreated later fought in Gaza.
Civilians murdered at Zikim Beach on October 7, 2023:
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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL
Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) and Gan Guru Australian Zoo
Our next destination is Gan HaShlosha National Park, also known as Sachne—one of Israel’s most breathtaking and beloved nature sites. Located in the Beit She’an Valley at the foot of the Gilboa Mountains, Gan HaShlosha park is famous for its warm, crystal-clear, spring-fed pools that maintain a constant soothing 28°C (82°F) year-round, offering an inviting swim in any season.
At the heart of the park flows the Amal Stream, which has been expanded into several large pools surrounded by vibrant green lawns, swaying palm trees, and shaded picnic areas—creating a tranquil and inviting setting perfect for families, swimmers, and nature lovers alike.
Beyond its natural beauty, Gan HaShlosha also holds deep historical and cultural significance. Within the park stands a replica of a “tower and stockade” settlement, paying tribute to the fortified communities established by Jewish pioneers in the 1930s as part of the early defense efforts during the British Mandate period. Visitors can also explore a carefully restored Ottoman-era water mill, offering a glimpse into the region’s agricultural past.
Gan HaSlosha park is also home to the Beit She’an Valley Archaeological Museum, which showcases a rich collection of artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Byzantine era, illuminating the area's long and layered history. Named in memory of three Jewish pioneers who were killed nearby in 1938, Gan HaShlosha offers a unique blend of recreation, history, and heritage— all set in one scenic location.
Whether you're seeking a refreshing swim, a peaceful family picnic, or a window into the early days of Zionist settlement, Gan HaShlosha promises a rich and immersive experience. Easily accessible by car, the park is thoughtfully equipped with modern amenities—including restrooms, showers, snack kiosks, and designated camping areas—making it an ideal destination for both leisurely day trips and memorable overnight stays.
Just next door to Gan HaShlosha lies Gan Garoo Australian Zoo—a one-of-a-kind wildlife and botanical attraction nestled in the Beit She’an Valley. As Israel’s only zoo dedicated entirely to Australian fauna, Gan Garoo offers a rare and engaging opportunity to experience the wonders of the Australian continent up close.
Developed with the support of the Australian Jewish community, Gan Guru park features a thoughtfully designed environment that mirrors the natural habitats of its residents—including kangaroos, emus, wallabies, and a colorful array of exotic birds such as cockatoos and lorikeets. A favorite among visitors is the open enclosure where gentle, friendly kangaroos roam freely, eager to be petted and hand-fed, making for an unforgettable and interactive experience for animal lovers of all ages.
In addition to its close-up animal encounters, Gan Guru is also home to an Australian-themed botanical garden, showcasing eucalyptus trees and other plant species imported from—or inspired by—the landscapes of the Outback.
The park is thoughtfully designed to be fully accessible and family-friendly, with shaded walking paths, informative signage in Hebrew and English, and interactive activities to keep children engaged. With its unique combination of wildlife interaction, cultural connections to Australia, and its picturesque setting near other major attractions, Gan Guru provides a vibrant and enriching experience for all its visitors.