Israel civil defense squads train to stop another Oct. 7 terror attack

ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER: “Fire, fire, fire!” A member of Kibbutz Bror Hayil’s local security team shouts, pointing his gun at a fellow participant posing as a terrorist. The kibbutz is located adjacent to the border with Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians led by Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people.

The exercise, which Fox News Digital also participated in, was Magen48’s eighth training session in partnership with the Israel Defense Forces; It was a full-scale exercise involving the local civil defense team to prepare southern Israeli communities for scenarios similar to the one on October 7.

One scenario simulated terrorists infiltrating a kibbutz kindergarten. While IDF forces were en route, the civil defense team had to respond, taking into account the presence of children, limited visibility, and the need to neutralize attackers while ensuring a safe evacuation. During the drill, a simulated grenade exploded, injuring one member of the civil defense team in the leg, while others managed to neutralize the terrorists.

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In previous sessions, participants learned to use weapons from behind cover while sitting, lying, standing and moving. They are also trained to work in pairs and larger groups while improving their communication skills. The drills became increasingly complex, with teams conducting drills inside buildings and constantly responding to emergency alerts.

Since the exercise took place within a civilian community, no live ammunition was used. All weapons and equipment were secured to prevent accidental discharge. Citizens were informed before the drill.

Among the 47 participants were IDF soldiers and medical personnel from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade.

Magen48 instructor T., who could not disclose his full name for security reasons, said the Bror Hayil program presented significant challenges in the beginning.

This image, created from undated body camera video footage taken by a downed Hamas terrorist and released by the Israel Defense Forces, shows a Hamas terrorist wandering around an undisclosed settlement in southern Israel. The Israeli military gathered a group of foreign reporters on Monday, October 16, 2023, to show 40 minutes of horrific footage compiled from Hamas’ attack on October 7. (Israeli Defense Forces via AP)

“The civil defense team consisted of soldiers who had served in special forces and had never served combat duty in the military. Some were issued weapons they had never used during their service. Training begins with weapons familiarization, covering the basics of firearms operation and how to manipulate the weapon’s safety mechanisms,” he said.

One of the lessons of October 7 was that many civilian security units responded alone. “Anyone who runs away alone cannot fend off terrorists,” said T., explaining that the training focuses on locating another team member before engaging in combat as much as possible.

“The idea behind this project is to create a unified operational language so that if an incident occurs, nearby communities can participate in the response and coordinate effectively,” he said.

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“The idea is that they can manage the incident until forces arrive, then hand over control in an orderly manner while continuing to work together. They know the kibbutz, work well as a team and have undergone high-quality training that has honed their skills.”

Founded in July 2024 and named for the 48 first responders killed on October 7, Magen48 has trained 1,500 civilians to respond to life-threatening emergencies, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and resources to deal with scenarios such as terrorist attacks, medical emergencies, and fires.

Participants in Magen48’s exercise at Kibbutz Bror Hayil respond to a simulated terrorist infiltration of the kibbutz’s kindergarten – July 8, 2026. (Amelie Botbol from Fox News Digital)

Ehud Dribben, a counterterrorism expert with 30 years of experience in this field, founded the organization together with Ari Briggs and Mike Aron. When the three began planning to establish a training facility, the IDF approached them to develop a program that would provide each of the 67 Gaza Envelope communities with 12 full training days per year. Magen48 has conducted more than 550 training sessions to date.

The training exercise began with the community command center issuing an alert about eight terrorists infiltrating the kibbutz, prompting civil defense team members to mobilize towards their assigned defensive positions.

Briggs and Dribben designed the drill around five key positions where the defensive team should ultimately concentrate its forces. Response times are measured and every step is closely monitored, from warning residents to engaging terrorists and evacuating the injured.

“Reports that emerged after October 7 showed that civilian first responders were incredibly brave. They were ready to do anything to protect their families, friends, and communities, but they were inadequately trained and did not have the equipment they needed,” Briggs said.

Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing civilians, including women, children and the elderly. (Israeli Defense Forces via AP)

“Strong, well-trained civilian responders don’t just improve security; they help bring communities back together, strengthen resilience, and ensure these towns grow and have a great future,” he added.

Retired British Colonel Richard Kemp, who observed the training exercises, said that the main goal was to prevent another October 7 attack.

“I was in the British army for 30 years, so I understand the importance of defense and security for a country like Israel,” he told Fox News Digital. “If you know your enemy has any capability that could endanger you, you must be prepared to deal with that capability through the work Magen48 does.”

Memorials at the site of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, on Monday, May 27, 2024. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Kemp said the exercise was one of the most complex he has witnessed.

“It’s really important that these exercises are held to reassure the local community that their safety is a top priority and that forces are doing everything they can to prepare for another terrorist attack like the one we saw on October 7,” he said.