Direct proof of use
Israeli Air Force Apache attack helicopters were used from the opening day of the 2023 Israel-Hamas War. Ynet's interview with the commanders of Israel's two Apache squadrons describes the October 7 response by 113 Squadron and 190 Squadron, including aircraft launched from Ramat David and Ramon, cannon fire near Be'eri, missile fire near the Gaza border fence, and later sorties around Re'im and Nahal Oz.
The AH-64D Saraph link is strongest for 113 Squadron: TWZ identifies that unit as the Israeli squadron flying the AH-64D Saraf, while Times of Israel likewise distinguishes 113 Squadron's AH-64D Seraph helicopters from 190 Squadron's AH-64A Peten aircraft. Later news-photo evidence often identifies the aircraft only as Israeli Apache helicopters, so those images support Apache combat use in the war but do not always identify the exact Israeli variant.
Sources: Ynet October 7 Apache Interview, TWZ October 7 AH-64 Analysis, Times of Israel Apache Squadron Identification
Timeline
On October 7, 2023, Ynet reported that two helicopters were airborne from Ramat David shortly after a reported sea infiltration at Zikim, with additional Apache crews mobilized as the scale of the Hamas-led attack became clear. By 9:00 a.m., Ynet said six Apache helicopters were airborne, three from each squadron; TWZ later summarized the commanders' account as 48 Israeli AH-64 sorties during the day.
AP photo captions document continued Israeli Apache activity during the Gaza campaign, including an Apache firing flares over Gaza on November 1, an Apache firing a missile toward the Gaza Strip on November 20, and an Apache firing a missile toward Gaza during the Rafah offensive on May 28, 2024.
Sources: Ynet October 7 Apache Interview, TWZ October 7 AH-64 Analysis, AP Nov. 1 Gaza Apache Flares, AP Nov. 20 Gaza Apache Missile, AP May 28 Rafah Apache Missile
Narrative
The Saraph was used as part of Israel's Apache force rather than as a separately reported theater system. Ynet's account places 113 Squadron, the AH-64D unit, in the emergency helicopter response after the October 7 attack and describes Apache crews moving rapidly between incidents, firing cannon and missiles, and trying to block further crossings or returns across the Gaza border.
After the initial attack, published imagery and reporting show Israeli Apache helicopters continuing to operate around Gaza. TWZ describes AH-64s over the Gaza border carrying Spike air-to-ground missiles, using the 30 mm cannon, firing a Hellfire missile at a northern Gaza target, and launching infrared countermeasures while lining up on a target. AP separately photographed Israeli Apache missile fire toward Gaza on multiple dates, documenting continued attack-helicopter strike activity during the campaign.
The public record does not always separate Saraph and Peten aircraft in wartime captions. The reliable conflict-use conclusion is that Israel used AH-64D Saraph helicopters through the Apache squadron structure, while many date-specific Gaza photos prove Apache use without proving whether each photographed aircraft was the AH-64D Saraph variant.
Sources: Ynet October 7 Apache Interview, TWZ October 7 AH-64 Analysis, AP Nov. 20 Gaza Apache Missile, AP May 28 Rafah Apache Missile
