The attack on the Egyptian border – the painful issues that will need to be answered: After two fighters and a female fighter were killed on Saturday, several questions are being raised, which may be answered in the joint investigation of the IDF and the Egyptian army. According to IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Danny Hagari in the evening, the terrorist penetrated through an emergency crossing.
It also emerged that the last contact with the soldier was at 04:15 a.m. In addition, the two did not fire their weapons at all. The terrorist was eventually located by a drone.
The main questions
1. Is it justified to deploy two fighters for a 12-hour shift, from 09:00 to 21:00?
2. Is the deployment of forces consistent with the operational mission?
3. Analysis of schedules: What exactly happened from the moment the soldier boarded the night shift until the platoon commander arrived at the post in the morning? When did the terrorist cross into Israeli territory? At what time did he shoot the soldier? How often should contact be established with combatants in the position and did the forces follow the procedures in this regard?
4. How does the IDF deal with the weak point of the emergency crossings in the "hourglass" fence, which are also well known to the Egyptian army?
5. Wasn't the brigade commander's action in pursuit of the Egyptian terrorist too hasty, and wasn't it right to do it with less risk to the forces, by closing off the area and technological capabilities, without endangering the forces?
The question of the terrorist's profile
The service along the Israeli-Egyptian border is abrasive, in difficult weather conditions. The IDF usually deploys the mixed battalions along the border, and the Egyptians, for their part, send police officers to the border, who are not really known for their quality, to say the least. Egyptian policemen are stationed along the border for long periods, during which they are constantly threatened by ISIS terrorists who roam Egyptian territory unhindered, and by groups of smugglers who spare no use of live ammunition to carry out their mission.
It is unclear whether the Egyptian policeman who crossed into Israel is mentally disturbed and whose complex service along the Israeli border has worsened his situation, or whether he is a person with nationalistic or religious motives who planned in advance the infiltration into Israel and the attack on IDF soldiers. The joint investigation by the IDF and the Egyptian army will probably deal with this question, and will also examine whether he acted on behalf of any organization. It will also have to be examined whether the policeman's colleagues or superiors knew of his intentions, and if so, why he was not prevented from carrying out his plot.
On the Israeli side of the border, the eclipse is also great, and questions about the conduct of the forces and the instructions they received are very troubling. One wonders whether it is reasonable to place two fighters on guard for a full 12 hours, between 09 a.m. and 00 p.m. Did the force comply with the procedures, and what exactly happened from the moment the Egyptian terrorist entered Israeli territory until the fighters were found shot in their position? The IDF did not answer how long a force was sent to check on them.
Another question concerns the conduct of the forces after finding the soldier who was shot in their position. Any reasonable person could probably assume that there was an armed terrorist on the ground waiting for the forces. Was it right to storm the area and launch a quick chase, without thinking about how this God-forsaken area could be closed off by technological and other means, without endangering the forces?
The IDF will have to further examine whether the security arrangements in the area are appropriate for the risks posed by the Egyptian border along a complex and mountainous terrain, and will be required to learn the lessons as soon as possible and demand that the Egyptians also conduct a serious home inspection and draw the necessary lessons.
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