Israeli army ‘failed the challenge’ of protecting kibbutz from Hamas

Israel’s defense minister has called for a detailed investigation into the incident resulting from the Hamas attacks on October 7, as the military admitted it had failed in its responsibility to protect a small number of civilians, as 101 Families were killed.

Yoav Galant made his comments in the run-up to official Israeli military reports detailing how the military operated in Kibbutz Be’eri, which adjoins the Gaza perimeter fence.

On 7 October, more civilians died in the kibbutz than in other Israeli settlements, with gunmen coming from nearby Gaza and vandalizing their properties.

Mr Gallant said a separate nationwide investigation was needed to read more about the activities of all those in power, including Top Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on how Hamas has grown in power and capability over the past decade.

About 1,200 families were killed and 251 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages in the unprecedented offensive that ended in the autumn.

This resulted in the largest Israeli military operation in Gaza, killing more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run State Ministry.

Kibbutz participants said it was worth noting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that it had failed to protect them and that the nationwide investigation was not making it easier for them.

The report presented by a senior military officer privately praised the bravery of the security forces, but said that the IDF was unprepared for a widespread incursion by Hamas and that “for the first seven hours of the battle, kibbutz residents were able to defend themselves.” Did”.

It added: “The investigation team determined that the IDF failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri.”

Alternative conclusions include:

• The IDF “struggled to form a clear and accurate situational assessment” of what was happening inside the kibbutz until the afternoon of the attacks, which began at daylight.
• Earlier there used to be “lack of command and control, lack of coordination and lack of arrangement between various forces and units”.
• The suspicion was that security forces were grouped at the front of the kibbutz as though Hamas was killing the family, waiting for the opportunity to move.
• “The gallantry and supreme courage displayed by the combat forces, commanders and security personnel” inspired many civilians

The records also focused on an order given to a tank to open fire on the area where the 13 hostages were being held.

Wrongful personal blame was attributed to Brigadier General Barack Hiram, commander of the 99th Infantry Section, who was found to have acted professionally with other senior officers in “complex and difficult situations”.

The record states: “The tank fire towards the area near the house was carried out in a professional manner, in which the commanders of all security organizations took a joint decision after careful consideration and situational assessment with the intention of putting pressure on the terrorists. it was done.” And rescue the civilians held hostage inside.”

Brigadier General Hiram will soon take command of the Gaza section.

The authors of the record concluded that as far as they could assess, no civilians inside the house were harmed through tank-shell fire, except for what they were calling “an isolated incident outside the building where “Two civilians were injured by shrapnel”.

It added: “The team determined that most of the hostages were likely murdered by terrorists, and additional inquiries and review of additional findings are necessary.”

The Chief of General Personnel of the IDF authorized the complete findings of the records and ordered that they be incorporated into year operational plans.

Hamas killed 10 of Berri’s 1,000 civilians on 7 October in violence that began around daybreak and lasted for hours.

Sharon Sharabi, whose two brothers Yossi and Eli were taken to Gaza as hostages, was quoted earlier in the report and said she had found nothing that contradicted the official findings.

“There was a command failure here. It’s a difficult and bad picture,” he said.

Yossi, 53, has been declared dead (by Israeli authorities) and the fate of Eli, now 52, ​​is unknown.

Mr Sharabi said: “It cannot be embellished in any way. Whatever test they try to do, it may turn it pink. This is impossible.”

A statement released by Kibbutz Beeri citizens said that it was very helpful to them that the IDF sought leniency rather than protecting them from an “unparalleled onslaught of evil.”

His observation read, “The Army’s failure has been burning in our bodies and our hearts for nine months.”

Civilians said they still did not receive adequate answers as to why the army did not attack the kibbutz, nor any explanation, but that information failure prevented Hamas from being aware of its cluster attack.

He also called for a nationwide (state) investigation, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been opposed to initiating.

Thursday’s list is expected to be the first in a series of IDF investigations into how the Oct. 7 attacks were handled in various parts of southern Israel where Hamas attacked.