The IDF's investigation into the deadly shooting attack near Kfar Tel in Judea and Samaria concluded that the rules of engagement were clear and permitted lethal force, the military said Wednesday. The probe identified several operational failures: the initial response force was too small, a full situational picture was not formed, and during the evacuation of Maj. Yuval Ezra, Staff Sgt. (res.) Binyahu Melat lay wounded in the field for several minutes, treated by a civilian medic without military presence. The investigation stated it could not determine whether Melat was killed by terrorist fire or by friendly fire from troops neutralizing the assailants.
The IDF's final investigation into the July 24 shooting attack near Kfar Tel in Judea and Samaria, which killed Maj. Yuval Ezra and Staff Sgt. (res.) Binyahu Melat, was released Wednesday. The probe found that the rules of engagement were clear and permitted lethal force, but identified significant operational failures: the initial response force was numerically inferior, a complete situational picture was not formed in real time, and during the evacuation of Ezra, Melat remained wounded in the field for several minutes, treated by a civilian medic without military presence. The IDF stated it could not conclusively determine whether Melat was killed by terrorist fire or by friendly fire from troops neutralizing the assailants. The Chief of Staff accepted the findings earlier Wednesday.
This development follows a series of reports on the investigation published Wednesday morning. Initial reports (Wed 11:00 Jerusalem) citing the Times of Israel stated that the IDF probe found insufficient troop response and that the source of the fatal shot remained unclear. The IDF subsequently published the full inquiry summary, which identified significant operational failures. By 11:00, the Chief of Staff had accepted the findings, with the military confirming the probe's conclusions.
The attack itself occurred on Friday, July 24, when a terrorist from the village of Tel opened fire on a group of Israeli residents hiking in the area. As The Zioneer reported, video footage later showed the terrorist walking calmly after the shooting while soldiers hesitated to engage. The IDF signed a demolition order for the terrorist's home on August 4. The investigation revealed that the hike was not coordinated with the military, and the group moved through Areas A and B for two hours without IDF knowledge.
The investigation's uncertainty over the cause of Melat's death — whether from terrorist fire or friendly fire during the engagement — remains unresolved. The operational failures identified by the probe, including the numerical inferiority of the responding force and the lack of a real-time situational picture, were noted as systemic issues requiring attention from the military command.
5 developments
- DevelopingIDF probe of Samaria terror attack finds hike unapproved, evacuation delays
- DevelopingIDF signs demolition order for terrorist's home after Kfar Tel attack that killed two soldiers
- StrongIDF orders all central command soldiers to remain on base after deadly Tell attack
- DevelopingCommentary criticizes IDF rules of engagement in Judea and Samaria
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