Israel has initiated an investigation into potential violations of the law by its forces during the Hamas attack on October 7, as announced by the military on Tuesday. This follows reports suggesting that Israeli civilians may have been accidentally killed by friendly fire during the conflict.
According to the left-wing daily Haaretz, the investigation is focusing on an incident in Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit communities, where a house was reportedly shelled by a tank, resulting in the deaths of 12 Israeli hostages who were being held by Palestinian Hamas gunmen.
The investigation had reportedly been postponed due to the demands of the four-month-old conflict in Gaza. However, with the decrease in fighting, army commanders deemed it appropriate to initiate the investigation.
When asked to verify if the investigation would encompass the mentioned incident, the Israel Defence Forces press desk responded with a statement confirming the ongoing investigation but refrained from providing additional comments or details.
“The IDF is operating the Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM) to examine reports and complaints regarding the violation of Israeli and international law during the fighting,” the military said in a statement.
The statement indicated that the fact-finding mission was still in its early stages, with investigators commencing the collection of materials. Upon completion of the investigation, all gathered materials would be transferred to the Military Advocate General’s office for assessment, determining whether there are sufficient grounds to initiate a military police investigation.
“The IDF is dedicated to conducting a comprehensive review and investigation,” stated the military.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis and foreigners lost their lives in the attack perpetrated by thousands of Hamas-led gunmen, as per Israeli reports. This incident marked the deadliest single-day loss of life since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Additionally, over 240 individuals were held hostage.
In response to inquiries regarding the Be’eri incident, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, stated that while the army remains focused on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, preparations for an investigation into the incident are underway.
“We will turn over every stone,” he told a regular press briefing. “We have started paving this path for learning and investigating. We will update.”
Israeli media previously covered the incident amidst the chaotic fighting in Be’eri, where witnesses recounted a tank firing upon a house where 12 Israelis were held hostage by gunmen.
In response to the attack, Israel initiated an air and ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in the reported death of over 27,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and significant destruction across the enclave.
The assault by Hamas gunmen, who swept through communities near Gaza, has prompted concerns about the preparedness of the Israeli military. Authorities have committed to conducting a thorough investigation once the conflict subsides.
“It will be a difficult journey,” the Chief of the General Staff, General Herzi Halevi said, commenting on the wider investigation into the security failures that preceded the attack. “We will emerge on the other side strengthened and much better, and that is exactly what we need,” he said.