Antiwar.com reports that an internal investigation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has uncovered multiple instances of friendly fire on October 7, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel.
The IDF report, expected to be published by mid-July, identifies numerous cases where Israeli forces mistakenly fired on their own people during the Hamas attack, resulting in significant casualties among both Israeli civilians and soldiers.
The article references allegations and evidence suggesting that the IDF may have implemented the Hannibal Directive, a controversial policy reportedly involving the killing of hostages to prevent them from being used in negotiations by Hamas. Israeli media outlet Ynet has reported findings consistent with the implementation of this directive, despite official denials from Tel Aviv. The forthcoming IDF report highlights various failures, including excessive reactions, hesitation, and poor management on the battlefield, contributing to the deaths of many civilians and Israeli security forces.
On October 7, the attack resulted in hundreds of deaths, including 767 Israeli civilians and 376 members of Israeli security forces. The IDF’s actions are held responsible for a significant portion of these deaths. Criticisms in the report focus on decisions by commanders, such as ordering troops to remain in reserve when they should have been on the front lines, and inadequate handling of hostage situations.
One tragic example cited is the incident at Kibbutz Be’eri, where 12 Israeli civilians were killed after IDF forces fired on houses knowing that civilians were inside. The article notes that The Grayzone and its journalists, including Max Blumenthal, have been attacked by mainstream media such as The Washington Post and Haaretz for reporting these facts. The IDF investigation and a UN report dated June 12, 2024, corroborate previous reports by The Grayzone.
An Israeli government investigation into IDF actions was halted by the country’s highest court due to objections from the IDF and several high officials, indicating possible resistance to fully addressing the failures. The IDF's internal investigation reveals significant incidents of friendly fire, mismanagement, and potential implementation of the Hannibal Directive during the October 7 Hamas attack, resulting in numerous Israeli casualties. The findings have sparked controversy and criticism of both the military’s actions and the media’s handling of these revelations.
Read the full article on The Grayzone.