Naval Systems

Small assault boat

Also known as
  • speedboat
  • rubber motor boat
  • rigid inflatable boat
  • RHIB
  • small vessel
  • Hamas naval commando boat

Small assault boats in this entry are generic motorized littoral craft rather than a publicly identified model. Hamas naval commandos used speedboats and other small vessels in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, including the October 7, 2023 sea infiltration at Zikim Beach and a follow-on attempted landing by sea reported by the IDF.

Small assault boat, Small motorized assault boat, Naval Systems
Image source: US Navy RHIB SWCC.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Not publicly identified; operated from the Gaza Strip
Type
Small motorized assault boat
Service note
Used in the October 7, 2023 attack
Designer
Not publicly identified
Designed
Not publicly identified; in use by 2023
Unit cost
Not publicly identified
Produced
Not publicly identified
Number built
Not publicly identified

Specifications

Documented October 7 boat group
Seven speedboats reported in IDF-probe coverage
Reported October 7 assault force
38 naval commandos reported in the boat-borne group
Propulsion
Motorized small craft; exact engine and hull model not publicly identified
Operating profile
Short-range littoral insertion near Zikim Beach
Illustrative craft class
Rigid inflatable boats and similar small military craft can use outboard motors for shallow-water coastal movement
Role
Short-range amphibious insertion and coastal assault
Timeline

Small assault boat Key Events

  1. Sea infiltration reaches Zikim Beach

    IDF-probe coverage described Hamas naval commandos moving toward Zikim Beach in seven speedboats before Israeli naval and ground forces engaged them.

    Sources: Times of Israel Zikim Beach IDF Probe

  2. Follow-on vessels intercepted near Zikim

    The IDF reported that five vessels attempting to infiltrate Israeli territory by sea near Zikim Beach were identified and prevented from reaching civilian areas.

    Sources: Hamas - Israel War: Real-time Official IDF Updates

Documented Maritime Use

Publicly available reporting identifies the craft by broad terms such as speedboat, vessel, and rubber motor boat, without naming a manufacturer or exact model for the Hamas boats.

Documented itemReported detailReader context
October 7 speedboatsIDF-probe coverage described seven speedboats carrying a naval commando force toward Zikim Beach.The clearest directly documented boat-borne use in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
October 8 vesselsThe IDF reported five vessels attempting a further sea infiltration near Zikim Beach overnight.Additional evidence of small-craft maritime infiltration attempts in the same area.
Illustrative RHIB imageryOpen-license RHIB photographs show a comparable class of fast small craft but are not photographs of the Hamas boats.Useful for understanding the craft type while keeping the model-identification caveat visible.
Media

Small assault boat Videos

Small assault boat Images

Small assault boat, Small motorized assault boat, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: 30-foot rigid hull inflatable boat DVIDS1070104.jpg
Small assault boat, Small motorized assault boat, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: RDN RHIB.jpg
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Sources

11 Meter Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB)Publisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports background and class-level specs for high-speed, shallow-draft military rigid inflatable boats used in coastal insertion and interdiction roles. | Accessed: 2026-06-29ASIS Military BoatsPublisher: ASIS Boats | Note: Supports background for purpose-built military rigid inflatable boats and their shallow-water, troop-disembarkation characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Times of Israel Zikim Beach IDF ProbePublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: IDF-probe coverage describes Hamas naval commandos using speedboats to approach and land near Zikim Beach on October 7, 2023. | Accessed: 2026-06-29New footage shows harbor security unit foiling Hamas naval infiltration on October 7Publisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: small boats used by Hamas were sunk and surviving terrorists were engaged during the October 7, 2023 sea infiltration. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Hamas - Israel War: Real-time Official IDF UpdatesPublisher: IDF | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: the IDF reported vessels attempting to infiltrate by sea through Zikim Beach and said they were prevented from reaching civilian areas. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Israel Dismantles Hamas Naval Commando Training FacilityPublisher: Foundation for Defense of Democracies | Note: Supports background on Hamas naval commando infrastructure and reports that boats from Gaza's civilian harbor police were used for training. | Accessed: 2026-06-29US Navy RHIB SWCC.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the U.S. Navy RHIB image used as the primary illustrative photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-2930-foot rigid hull inflatable boat DVIDS1070104.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the Coast Guard RHIB image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-29RDN RHIB.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the Danish Navy RHIB image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-29