Direct proof of use
The M230 appears in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War through Israeli AH-64 Apache operations. The Israeli Air Force identifies its Apache armament as a 30 mm single-barrel M230 cannon, and Northrop Grumman identifies the M230 Bushmaster Chain Gun as the Apache helicopter's main chain-gun weapon.
Conflict-specific reporting documents Israeli AH-64s firing cannon rounds during the war. TWZ, summarizing Ynet interviews with Israeli AH-64 squadron commanders, reported that an AH-64 commander used cannon fire near a Gaza-border breach on October 7, 2023, and later described the crews' need to conserve 30 mm chain-gun ammunition. The same report captions a January 18, 2024 image as an Israeli AH-64 using its 30 mm cannon against targets in Gaza. Newsweek also reported on October 10, 2023 that circulating footage appeared to show Israeli AH-64s firing gun bursts and Hellfire missiles at Hamas targets, while noting that the outlet could not independently verify the clip's time and location.
Sources: Israeli Air Force Apache Profile, Northrop Grumman M230 Evolution, TWZ October 7 Apache Missions, Newsweek Apache Chain Gun Video
Timeline
On October 7, 2023, Israeli AH-64 crews were launched during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. TWZ's account, based on Ynet interviews with Israeli attack-helicopter commanders, places the first alert AH-64s near Zikim by about 7:30 a.m.; another AH-64 pair took off from Ramon at about 8:10 a.m. toward Be'eri, where their initial task was suppressive fire support for a Black Hawk carrying Shaldag special forces.
During the same day, the report says Lt. Col. A. first used cannon fire near a Gaza-border breach and then fired a missile at a Hamas van near the Nahal Oz area. By midday, Israeli AH-64 tactics focused on forming a barrier against militants crossing the border fence or returning to Gaza, and Israeli AH-64s had flown 48 sorties over the course of the day.
On January 18, 2024, photo-caption reporting cited by TWZ identified an Israeli Air Force AH-64 using its 30 mm cannon to fire at targets in the Gaza Strip, documenting continued gun employment after the opening day of the war.
Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache Missions
Narrative
The documented user was Israel, through Israeli Air Force AH-64A Peten and AH-64D Saraf attack-helicopter units. The weapon's role was close air support and fire support from attack helicopters: suppressive fire around border communities, engagement of militants and vehicles during the October 7 response, and later firing into Gaza during continued fighting.
The evidence should be read as Apache-based M230 use rather than a separate ground-gun deployment. The IAF and Northrop sources establish that the Apache's 30 mm cannon is the M230; the conflict-specific sources establish that Israeli AH-64s fired cannon rounds during the war. The strongest dated narrative comes from TWZ's report on Ynet interviews with Israeli AH-64 commanders, while Newsweek's October 2023 video report is useful only as early open-source reporting because the outlet did not independently verify the circulating clip.
Sources: Israeli Air Force Apache Profile, Northrop Grumman M230 Evolution, TWZ October 7 Apache Missions, Newsweek Apache Chain Gun Video
