In a devastating revelation, the IDF confirmed today that two Israeli civilians were likely killed by friendly fire during the chaotic early hours of Hamas's October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The victims, Tomer Eliaz-Arava and his stepmother Dikla Arava, were initially believed to have been killed by Hamas terrorists.
The findings emerge from a detailed military investigation led by Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Yaron Sitbon, who heads the probe into the battles at Nahal Oz. The investigation, while still ongoing, has pieced together the tragic sequence of events that befell the Eliakim-Arava-Eliaz family that morning.
According to the military's report, the morning's horror began when Hamas terrorists breached the family's home and opened fire at their safe room door, wounding Noam Eliakim. In a cruel twist, the terrorists then seized Dikla Arava's mobile phone and forced her son, Tomer, to walk through the kibbutz recording a Facebook Live video, compelling neighbors to leave their homes.
After approximately 90 minutes, Tomer managed to escape his captors and went into hiding. However, this act of bravery led to a fatal misidentification. IDF forces, who had been engaged in intense combat with multiple terrorist cells throughout the kibbutz for six hours, spotted what they described as a "suspicious figure." The soldiers, operating under extreme pressure and facing immediate threats, opened fire. The investigation concludes with "high probability" that this figure was Tomer Eliaz-Arava.
The tragedy of the Eliakim-Arava-Eliaz family was far from over. Hamas terrorists proceeded to kidnap several family members: Noam Eliakim, his two daughters Ella and Daphna, and his partner Dikla Arava. During their attempted escape toward Gaza, their vehicle came under fire from Israeli forces who identified it as a terrorist vehicle in flight. This engagement resulted in Dikla Arava's death, after which the terrorists abandoned the vehicle with her body inside the kibbutz.
The IDF's spokesperson emphasized that while these conclusions carry high probability, absolute certainty regarding the exact circumstances of both deaths remains elusive due to the chaos and complexity of that day's events. The investigation continues as part of a broader examination of the October 7 attacks, during which the IDF acknowledges it "failed in its mission" to protect Israeli civilians.
In an unusual step, military investigators presented these findings directly to the bereaved family due to the sensitive nature of the discoveries. The IDF expressed its deep sorrow to the Arava-Eliaz-Eliakim family and the entire Nahal Oz community.
The investigation highlights the unprecedented challenges faced by IDF forces during the October 7 attack, where soldiers had to make split-second decisions in an environment where terrorists were deliberately mixing with civilians. Despite the tragic outcomes, the report also notes the heroic resistance mounted by security forces, reservists, local security teams, and civilians throughout the Gaza envelope communities.
The complete investigation into the Nahal Oz battle remains ongoing, conducted parallel to active combat operations. Military officials have committed to presenting the full findings first to the kibbutz community residents and the families of the fallen and wounded before sharing them with the broader public.
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