In a significant move towards transparency and accountability, the IDF is preparing to present detailed findings of its internal investigation into the October 7 Hamas attack to members of Kibbutz Be'eri. IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, along with Major General (reserve) Miki Edelstein, who led the investigation, will meet with kibbutz members at a Dead Sea resort on Thursday.
The report is expected to provide a minute-by-minute account of the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, detailing the IDF's response times and the sequence of decisions made during the crisis. It scrutinizes the chain of command and communication breakdowns that occurred, highlighting instances where lack of clear orders led to troops not engaging attackers effectively.
A key focus of the investigation is the incident at Pessi Cohen's house, where multiple hostages were held. The decision to fire a tank shell at the house was made after consultation between IDF and special police forces. The report suggests this decision was reasonable given the complex hostage situations unfolding simultaneously.
Brigadier General Barak Hiram is likely to be exonerated from responsibility for fatalities at Pessi's house. The report commends Hiram's leadership during the attack, noting his role in evacuating residents and eliminating terrorists. This positive evaluation may clear the way for Hiram's appointment as Commander of the Gaza Division.
The investigation reveals systemic failures, including unauthorized withdrawals of some forces from combat and gaps in intelligence and preparedness leading up to the attack. It's expected to include a series of recommendations to prevent similar failures in the future, potentially involving changes in border security protocols, improvements in intelligence gathering, and updates to crisis response procedures.
This investigation is part of a larger effort by the IDF to understand and learn from the events of October 7. It's the first of several expected reports examining different aspects of the attack and the military's response. The findings will likely influence IDF operations and strategy in the Gaza region, as well as broader national security policies and military preparedness measures.
The meeting with Kibbutz Be'eri members is seen as a crucial step in addressing the community's concerns and questions. It's expected to be an emotional and potentially tense encounter, given the traumatic nature of the events. This presentation of the investigation's findings underscores the IDF's commitment to learning from the October 7 events and improving its capabilities to protect Israeli civilians.
In the broader context of military leadership, Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, current commander of the 143rd Gaza Division, announced his resignation in early June. The potential appointment of Brigadier General Barak Hiram as his replacement hinges on the investigation's final conclusions.
* The Jewish Press contributed to this article.
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