In the video: IDF Spokesperson: Three Israeli abductees shot dead accidentally/Photo: Report
What went through the minds of the soldiers of the force who mistakenly identified Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer Tlalka as terrorists and shot them to death? Why did they open fire in complete contravention of orders, even though the abductees waved a white flag and one of them shouted "Help" in Hebrew? This troubling question is not easy to answer, but it seems that in order to begin to formulate an answer, it is necessary to understand the impossible conditions under which the combat teams operate in Shejaiya – a neighborhood that is not for nothing defined by some as the most dangerous in the Middle East. These conditions undoubtedly influenced the choice of fighters on the battlefield, contributing to theirs to the tragic and painful outcome.
Probing questions. Yotam Haim, Samer Tlalqa and Alon Shamriz, who were killed by gunfire by our forces in Shejaiya/documentation on social networks according to section 27A of the Copyright Law
The circumstances: a scenario no one imagined
Let's start with the circumstances of the incident: the forces entered a Palestinian building in the heart of the Shejaiya neighborhood, and after purging it of terrorists, shafts and IEDs, stayed there for a limited period of time while securing its windows and doors. One by one, they went up to the vigil with reeds drawn, over protective sandbags or firing slits they had created in the walls, so they could look out. In this situation, the task of the fighters is to thwart a sudden attack by the terrorists - whether they charge at the force, fire at it with a sniper rifle or launch anti-tank missiles. The fighters are on high alert: in their view, at any moment they may be required to defend their comrades and themselves.
Before the guard rises in positions, commanders conduct a briefing in which they detail to the fighters the rules of engagement and the possible scenarios that the fighters may face. But about the incredible scenario that occurred here – three abductees, in the middle of hostile territory from which civilians fled following the attacks, waving a white flag and shouting in Hebrew – no commander thought in advance, and certainly could not have briefed the fighters on his case. It is quite possible that the unexpected event surprised the fighters and undermined them. A young commander who finds himself on a battlefield that is completely different from what he imagined or prepared for, may be very stressed under such conditions, and often react to the extreme.
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Anyone who moves could be a terrorist. Our forces during activity in the Gaza Strip / IDF Spokesperson
Mental state: unbearable stress
A stranger will not understand what a rifleman fighter goes through on a battlefield, and it is difficult to trace what is going on in his soul or judge the fighters before the investigation is complete. But it can be said without a doubt that in war, the spearhead fighter has a superhuman task: to be alert around the clock, to defend, attack, maneuver, identify threats, strive for contact, charge and guard his comrades. The difficulty is even greater in the current incident: the shooting is not carried out in Israeli territory but on a battlefield, where, at least as far as the fighters are concerned, anyone who moves is liable to be a terrorist. For days, the fighters saw no civilians in the area, and suddenly they saw civilians carrying a white flag and shouting "Help." Everything drains into a split second, in which the fighter has to decide: to pull the trigger or not to pull the trigger? If he chooses not to shoot, he and his fellow soldiers may pay with their lives.
Nor can we ignore the mental suffering caused by fighting. They count dead and wounded, but they don't often talk about the scars that form in the soul, certainly after 71 days of fighting. There is no one who does not bear such scars, more or less hidden. Some military medical officials are convinced that these scars, and the common language between the fighters, help connect them and create a better cohesion for combat.
If you don't pull the trigger, you and your fellow soldiers could pay with your lives. Our forces during activity in the Gaza Strip / IDF Spokesperson
The threats: suicide bombers and puppets to divert the fighters
The encounter between the fighters and the three abductees in Shejaiya took place against the backdrop of a series of threats that hovered in the air, some of which were recently reported to commanders. One of these threats involved dolls placed on the side of the road to pull the fighters into alleys and shoot at them (what the IDF calls a "pull attack"). At the same time, Hamas makes use of suicide bombers and even sends women to provoke the fighters.
In the shadow of these threats, commanders are required to prevent complacency among the fighters. This is a twofold challenge: on the one hand to combat burnout and create operational alertness, and on the other hand – to prevent excessive vigilance, which may lead to incidents of our forces firing at our forces. In addition, only a few days ago there was a fierce and brutal battle in the Shejaiya sector, during which former Faran brigade commander Colonel Yitzhak Ben Basht, Golani Battalion 13 commander Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg, 669th Brigade commander Maj. Ben Shelly and six other officers and fighters fell. There is no doubt that all these were in the minds of the fighters when they made the decision that led to the disaster.
A complex, difficult and deceptive combat environment. IDF Fighters in the Gaza Strip/IDF Spokesperson
The hard questions: Why did the force feel in danger?
- War, as we know, is the realm of uncertainty. The chaos on the battlefield is enormous, so it is important to raise a series of obvious questions:
- Why did the fighter choose to shoot the first two abductees?
- Why did his friends fire at the third kidnapper, even though they were told to "cease fire"?
- Regarding the claim that the fighters encountered a "kidnapped target", that is, one that you see for a short time - how long did the fighters see the target? Did they feel in danger, and why?
Assessment: The sound of tanks scared away terrorists and allowed the abductees to escape. IDF tank on Gaza border/image processing, Reuters
Continued maneuvering: On the way to another deal?
IDF sources wonder how the three abductees managed to leave a building in the heart of Shejaiya, with a white flag, and cry out for help. The initial assessment at this stage is that the IDF strikes, along with the sound of tanks, were so close to the scene and so tangible that they chased away the terrorists who were securing the place where the abductees were being held, thus enabling the escape of the latter. One way or another, the army is still convinced that the ground maneuver is what led to the first phases of the hostage deal, and that as it progresses, it will most likely lead to a new deal.
Countless threats against the fighters, from a "pull attack" to anti-tank fire. IDF forces in Shejaiya/IDF Spokesperson
The Investigation: The Duty to Be Transparent
The IDF must continue to act in this case with full transparency. When the details of the testimonies of the fighters who opened fire, the fighters who stood beside them, the battalion commander and the other commanders who were present at the event become clear, they must present them to the public.
There is no doubt that this was a tragic case, the distance between it and an uplifting event, which could have made an entire country happy and provided it with hope, was like a thread. The IDF must thoroughly investigate the details of the case, exhaust every proceeding despite the fighting on the ground, and disseminate the lessons and insights in order to prevent similar incidents from recurring. This is his duty to the families of the abductees in particular, and to the public in general.
- More on the subject:
- Gaza War
- Iron Sword War
- Abductees
- Shejaiya