Operation in Gaza, Israeli Special Forces Killed Shot by Their Own Friends
The Tel Aviv military revealed the results of an investigation into the death of an Israeli Special Forces officer in a failed undercover operation in the Gaza Strip last November. According to the results of the investigation, the victim was killed by a friend's shot or a friendly fire incident.
The failed operation triggered a brief battle in Gaza that killed seven Hamas militants, including the battalion commander east of the Al-Qassam Izzudin Brigade, Nur Barakeh, in Khan Younis.
The location of the Israeli Special Forces shooting incident which killed his own teammates in an undercover operation in the Gaza Strip
The bodies of Israeli Special Forces officers were found lifeless by the Hamas group and were handed over to the Israeli military as part of an agreement to end the brief fighting at the time.
The announcement of the results of the military investigation was delivered by the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Aviv Kochavi.
Kochavi said the operation - whose details remain a secret - failed to reach its goal. A careful examination of the events revealed a number of errors during the planning and implementation of the operation.
A special review committee established to investigate the incident reached a conclusion after a lengthy investigation, and the results were submitted to Kochavi, as well as the commander of the Special Forces, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Head of Operations Directorate, Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Israeli Air Force Commander and Chief Major General (Ret.) Nitzan Alon General Staff Review Committee.
According to the report, Lieutenant Colonel M. - whose identity was still classified - was killed accidentally, as a result of a friendly fire incident.
After further incidents and investigations, the Chief of Staff said the army had modified its own operational protocol to prevent a repeat of the same mistakes that led to the meeting of secret forces while still inside the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also holds a defense portfolio, praised the soldiers involved in covert operations and vowed that lessons learned from the incident would be carried out.
"Lessons will be learned and recommendations will be carried out. I commend the courage of soldiers and pilots operating in very difficult conditions, and acts of heroic rescue. On behalf of Israelis, I want to stand near Lieutenant Colonel M's family for heroism and efforts," he said, as quoted by Israel National News on Monday (07/08/2019).
On the night of November 11, Israeli Special Forces entered the city of Khan Younis during an intelligence data collection mission.
According to the Hamas group, the forces tried to install hearing devices in Khan Younis to tap their organization's communications. The Israeli military has refused to comment on Hamas claims.
The operation was monitored by the head of the IDF at the time Gadi Eisenkot, head of Military Intelligence Tamir Hayman and head of the Shin Bet Nadav Argaman security service.
During the mission, the soldiers were stopped and interrogated by Hamas agents because they acted suspiciously. According to Arab media, troops are equipped with fake documentation that identifies them as Palestinians.
The interrogation lasted around 45 minutes. "The troops were able to remain in the field after they were exposed for commendable actions from Lieutenant Colonel M who led the troops for several minutes after his men were considered suspicious," IDF spokesman Ronen Manelis said on Sunday.
"Once there were certain conditions that threatened the lives of troops, the commander of one of the forces, Lieutenant Colonel Aleph, opened fire on a group of Hamas terrorists," he said.
The investigation, launched shortly after the operation, found that Lieutenant Colonel M was killed by Lethal Colonel Aleph's shot, and another officer who had been surrounded by the Hamas operation, was also wounded by his shot.
"Lieutenant Colonel Aleph opened fire, killed a number of Hamas terrorists, and unfortunately also about Lieutenant Colonel M with stray shots," another IDF spokesman said, as quoted by the Times of Israel. { Source }
The failed operation triggered a brief battle in Gaza that killed seven Hamas militants, including the battalion commander east of the Al-Qassam Izzudin Brigade, Nur Barakeh, in Khan Younis.
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| Photo From: sindonews.com |
The location of the Israeli Special Forces shooting incident which killed his own teammates in an undercover operation in the Gaza Strip
The bodies of Israeli Special Forces officers were found lifeless by the Hamas group and were handed over to the Israeli military as part of an agreement to end the brief fighting at the time.
The announcement of the results of the military investigation was delivered by the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Aviv Kochavi.
Kochavi said the operation - whose details remain a secret - failed to reach its goal. A careful examination of the events revealed a number of errors during the planning and implementation of the operation.
A special review committee established to investigate the incident reached a conclusion after a lengthy investigation, and the results were submitted to Kochavi, as well as the commander of the Special Forces, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Head of Operations Directorate, Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Israeli Air Force Commander and Chief Major General (Ret.) Nitzan Alon General Staff Review Committee.
According to the report, Lieutenant Colonel M. - whose identity was still classified - was killed accidentally, as a result of a friendly fire incident.
After further incidents and investigations, the Chief of Staff said the army had modified its own operational protocol to prevent a repeat of the same mistakes that led to the meeting of secret forces while still inside the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also holds a defense portfolio, praised the soldiers involved in covert operations and vowed that lessons learned from the incident would be carried out.
"Lessons will be learned and recommendations will be carried out. I commend the courage of soldiers and pilots operating in very difficult conditions, and acts of heroic rescue. On behalf of Israelis, I want to stand near Lieutenant Colonel M's family for heroism and efforts," he said, as quoted by Israel National News on Monday (07/08/2019).
On the night of November 11, Israeli Special Forces entered the city of Khan Younis during an intelligence data collection mission.
According to the Hamas group, the forces tried to install hearing devices in Khan Younis to tap their organization's communications. The Israeli military has refused to comment on Hamas claims.
The operation was monitored by the head of the IDF at the time Gadi Eisenkot, head of Military Intelligence Tamir Hayman and head of the Shin Bet Nadav Argaman security service.
During the mission, the soldiers were stopped and interrogated by Hamas agents because they acted suspiciously. According to Arab media, troops are equipped with fake documentation that identifies them as Palestinians.
The interrogation lasted around 45 minutes. "The troops were able to remain in the field after they were exposed for commendable actions from Lieutenant Colonel M who led the troops for several minutes after his men were considered suspicious," IDF spokesman Ronen Manelis said on Sunday.
"Once there were certain conditions that threatened the lives of troops, the commander of one of the forces, Lieutenant Colonel Aleph, opened fire on a group of Hamas terrorists," he said.
The investigation, launched shortly after the operation, found that Lieutenant Colonel M was killed by Lethal Colonel Aleph's shot, and another officer who had been surrounded by the Hamas operation, was also wounded by his shot.
"Lieutenant Colonel Aleph opened fire, killed a number of Hamas terrorists, and unfortunately also about Lieutenant Colonel M with stray shots," another IDF spokesman said, as quoted by the Times of Israel. { Source }
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