The Battle of Sufa was fought between Palestinian militants from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Israel Defense Forces on 7 October 2023 during the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood offensive against southern Israel. The Israeli kibbutz and military outpost of Sufa, which had previously been targeted by Hamas rocket attacks and incursions, was attacked by Qassam Brigades terrorists on the first day of the offensive, and the terrorists took about 250 hostages alive. In response, Israeli special forces operatives from Shayetet 13 stormed the besieged base just a few hours later, working to rescue hostages (including capture Golani Brigade soldiers) and eliminate clusters of terrorists. The special forces operatives, who had coppered in from the north, commandeered civilian vehicles in order to reach battle zones faster. A naval force was significantly outnumbered by well-armed terrorists who barricaded themselves and dozens of hostages inside bunkers on the base, but Israeli ground troops - supported by armored and air units - eliminated or captured all 40 Hamas terrorists and rescued the hostages alive; 26 Hamas terrorists, including Hamas southern naval brigade deputy commander Muhammad Abu Ghali, were taken alive. Lt. Col. Eli Ginzburg and First Sgt. Ofek Russo were killed during the operation.