Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz orders investigation into Military Police inquiry of Senior Officer

Res. Brigadier General Oren Solomon, the combat manager of the Gaza Division, who was responsible for the Gaza Division investigation over the past year, was recently dismissed from his reserve position without the IDF providing any explanation.

This evening, it was revealed that Solomon was also summoned for an investigation by the Military Police. According to the IDF, an investigation was opened against him on suspicion of serious security information offenses.

The IDF clarified that he was not arrested but summoned for an investigation and appeared for it, and that the investigation is in its early stages.

Solomon sent a letter today to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, offering to present the Gaza Division investigation to them, which he claims was hidden from the political echelon and the Israeli public by order of the senior military command. Now, Defense Minister Katz demands to summon Solomon to present the investigation to him.

Solomon, who was authorized to conduct an inquiry into the Southern Command's operations during the attack, has been summoned for a Military Police (MP) investigation. This decision has raised significant questions, particularly since Solomon had criticized the performance of the senior ranks of the IDF in his report.

Minister Katz expressed his concerns, emphasizing that investigations by the Military Police should not be used as a tool to suppress internal criticism within the IDF. Such criticism is essential in ensuring transparency and accountability, helping bring all the relevant details to the families of the victims and the public. Katz underlined the importance of drawing internal lessons to improve the functioning of the IDF.

In response to the ongoing situation, Katz has indicated that he intends to request that the Chief of Staff review the actions of the Military Prosecutor’s Office in this matter, stressing that the current course of events should not set a precedent for silencing necessary internal reviews.

The controversy surrounding Solomon escalated when it was revealed that he had recently been dismissed from his position as the director of operations for the Gaza Division without any explanation from the IDF. Furthermore, it emerged that Solomon had been summoned for an investigation due to suspected severe security breaches. The IDF clarified that Solomon was not arrested but instead called for questioning, and that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Today, Solomon sent letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Katz, offering to present the results of his investigation into the Gaza Division. He claimed that the findings had been concealed from both the political leadership and the Israeli public, allegedly under orders from senior military command.

Chief of Staff’s Response:

In response to the growing public discourse, Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir issued a statement, asserting that he does not accept instructions via media reports. He denied claims that the officer was being investigated for his role in the October 7th inquiries, calling such accusations false and baseless. According to Zamir, the investigation is focused on suspected violations of security protocols, and the process will continue with professionalism and objectivity.

Zamir voiced his support for the legal enforcement bodies within the IDF, emphasizing that they are working according to the law to clarify suspicions as required. This ongoing investigation into Solomon has become a focal point of debate, highlighting issues related to transparency, accountability, and internal military scrutiny in the wake of the October 7th attacks.