I don't know how to confirm this myself but I have read and heard that before anything else, after it was known Hamas fighters were inside Israeli territory, the IDF first move militarily was to start bombing Gaza. No one can argue honestly that the IDF defends Israelis - its literally just the most reactionary of religious Zionists that they serve.

Secular Jewish Israelis? Nah they can fend for themselves for a few hours, we've gotta attack Palestinian civilians, says the IDF. And that's not even bringing up that 20% of Israeli citizens ARE ARABS, some of whom were also attacked in their homes in Southern Israel 10 days ago, but of course the same people calling Hamas human animals will go after them next (not to suggest they aren't already, only that Gazans face more immediate extermination).

here’s literally an active military base RIGHT THERE

Practically the complete IDF was in the West Bank at that time, when you have minimal staffing at a military base you really don't want to leave it but hunker down as it getting captured would be even worse.

There’s no way the IDF could be that incompetent.

I'd say that's a reasonable assessment. That Netanyahu and his goons are as competent, however, is a much more tenuous claim, or they wouldn't have sent the IDF o the West Bank (to back up settlers harassing (and worse) Palestinians).