An IDF probe has determined that Efrat Katz, 68, was likely killed by Israeli Air Force helicopter fire while Hamas terrorists kidnapped the Kibbutz Nir Oz resident on October 7.
The IDF says the probe found that the military’s surveillance systems could not distinguish Israeli hostages from Hamas terrorists while in moving vehicles, and therefore the shooting was “defined as shooting at a vehicle with terrorists.”
The chief of the IAF, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, says that he “did not find fault in the operation by the helicopter crew, who operated in compliance with the orders in a complex reality of war.”
For those who don’t know: The Hannibal directive was official policy of Israel to stop abductions of Israeli soldiers by all means necessary, including the death of the (Israeli) hostage. Often summarized as “rather dead than abducted”. The name was chosen randomly. Israel claims they no longer use this policy, but this is disputed.
Also, an identical directive was given the morning of October 7th 2023.
Source?
https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/yokra13754368
This is in Hebrew because this is what i read at the time, you’d have to look up another article in English yourself if you want to.
Thank you. It’s difficult to find English language sources on this. Everywhere there’s misinformation and wild speculation passing as fact.
That’s weird considering how much of it was documented, maybe it’s different for me because I live in this godforsaken place and news have to reach me one way or the other.