The IDF completed its investigation into the shooting attack near Kfar Tel in Judea and Samaria, which killed Maj. Yuval Ezra and Capt. (res.) Benayahu Mellet, and identified significant operational failures, the military said. The findings come as the IDF published the full inquiry summary.
The IDF on Wednesday published the full summary of its investigation into the June 7 terror attack near Kfar Tel in Judea and Samaria, identifying significant operational failures. The release at 11:00 Jerusalem follows the earlier disclosure of preliminary findings, which noted insufficient troop response and an unclear source of the fatal shot.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, the probe determined that rules of engagement were clear but command failures and an insufficient number of forces at the scene contributed to the deadly outcome. The full summary additionally revealed that the hiking group moved through the area without prior coordination with the military, and that the medical evacuation of Capt. (res.) Benayahu Mellet was delayed, a 'serious malfunction' according to the report. The military noted that the group hiked for two hours in Areas A and B without IDF knowledge, despite the military having received general information about a planned trek the previous evening but failing to establish contact with the organizers.
The attack occurred on June 7, when terrorists opened fire on a group of Israeli residents hiking near the village of Tel, killing Maj. Yuval Ezra and Capt. (res.) Benayahu Mellet. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted an initial investigation at the scene the following day, as The Zioneer reported on June 8.
The investigation noted that the source of the fatal shot that killed Mellet remains unclear, with the military stating it could not determine conclusively whether he was killed by terrorist fire or by friendly fire during the engagement. This question was not resolved in the final summary.
5 developments
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- 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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