Israeli Military Official Confirms ‘Friendly Fire’ Incidents During October 7 Operation
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- An Israeli military official has confirmed that multiple ‘friendly fire incidents’ occurred during the October 7 resistance operation, blaming that on chaos. An Israeli military official, cited by the AP, confirmed that Israeli forces mistakenly fired on their own troops and settlers. He did not disclose exact numbers but admitted such incidents occurred. The statement was made to comment on a recent investigation by the Israeli army revealing the reasons behind Israel’s loss on October 7, 2023.
Additionally, last year, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that an Israeli military helicopter fired at Palestinians but ended up wounding Israelis attending a festival on October 7. The military also released drone footage showing hundreds of burned and damaged cars moved from the Nova music festival, targeted with heavy weapons not used by Gaza-based resistance groups.
At 11:22 AM, Israeli command issued an order to the Gaza Division stating, “Not a single vehicle can return to Gaza.” A source from Southern Command told Haaretz, “Everyone knew by then that such vehicles could be carrying kidnapped civilians or soldiers … Everyone knew what it meant to not let any vehicles return to Gaza.”
The directive was used at various locations, including the house of Pessi Cohen at Kibbutz Be’eri, where 13 out of 14 Israelis were killed. A Haaretz source stated, “The instruction was meant to turn the area around the [Gaza] border fence into a killing zone, closing it off toward the west.”
Military Investigation on Oct. 7 Operation
The Israeli investigation admitted a total failure in preventing the October 7 resistance operation on Israeli settlements besieging Gaza. The report revealed new details about the assault and its aftermath.
A senior Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, described the attack as a “complete failure.” He admitted that the army failed to protect Israeli settlers. “Many civilians were killed that day while asking themselves, or even out loud, where the Israeli army was,” he said.
According to the military’s summary, Israeli forces failed to safeguard settlers. The Gaza Division was overwhelmed in the early hours of the operation as resistance groups took control of key military sites. The official admitted that the army was overconfident and underestimated Hamas’s capabilities before the operation began.
The investigation found that the operation occurred in three waves, involving around 5,000 resistance fighters. The first wave included over 1,000 elite Hamas fighters who infiltrated under heavy fire. The second wave consisted of 2,000 fighters, while the third involved hundreds more, accompanied by thousands of civilians, who returned to their homeland.
The report stated that the Gaza Division was subdued early in the operation, and Israeli forces only began countering it by midday. The official admitted that “the price we paid on October 7 in terms of casualties was unbearable.”
The investigation also blamed deep flaws in Israel’s intelligence system. It stated that the failure resulted from serious internal issues within military intelligence. The long-held strategy of conflict management and frontline defense collapsed during the attack.
The report noted that Hezbollah did not join the battle early due to a lack of coordination. The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli Air Force sources saying, “Had Hezbollah attacked while we were unprepared, we would have faced an even worse situation.”
The investigation’s findings angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His critics used the report to demand accountability. Netanyahu was reportedly frustrated that the military released the findings before informing him. He has rejected calls for resignation or accepting responsibility for the unprecedented operation.
