Israeli Officer Who Claimed Killing 13 Resistance Fighters on October 7 Kills Himself
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- An Israeli officer who claimed to have killed 13 Palestinian resistance fighters on October 7 has killed himself, according to Haaretz.
Major Igor Pibenev, 32, is the third Israeli officer to take his own life after the events of that day. He had been undergoing psychological treatment for trauma.
The incident adds to growing scrutiny over the Israeli army’s actions on October 7, especially after reports revealed it activated the “Hannibal Directive.”
This military protocol allows Israeli forces to prevent the capture of soldiers—even if it means killing them. However, media reports suggest the army used the directive not just against its soldiers, but also against Israeli ‘civilians’ caught near Hamas fighters.
Investigations, including one by Haaretz, found that Israeli helicopters and tanks opened fire on cars and homes in the Gaza envelope settlements. Dozens of Israeli settlers may have died as a result. Witnesses and survivors have described scenes of chaos, with many questioning why Israeli forces fired so heavily into areas with their own people.
The Israeli government has not formally confirmed the use of the Hannibal Directive, but military experts and leaked reports have indicated that it played a role in the Israeli death toll.
