The IDF published its investigation into the July 24 terror attack near Havat Gilad in Samaria, i24NEWS reports. The probe found that the hike by Israeli residents was not coordinated with the military, and that responding forces only arrived after the hike was spotted via observation. The investigation also identified failures in the evacuation of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Binyahu Melat, who remained wounded in the field for several minutes, treated by a civilian medic without a military force present.
The IDF published its investigation Wednesday into the deadly terror attack near Havat Gilad in Samaria, i24NEWS reports. The probe found that the hike by Israeli residents was not coordinated with the military, and that the responding force only arrived after the hike was identified via observation. The investigation also identified failures in the evacuation of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Binyahu Melat, who remained wounded in the field for several minutes, treated by a civilian medic, without a military force present.
The probe, which the IDF Spokesperson released earlier Wednesday, also determined that the rules of engagement were clear and that the responding force from the 411th Battalion was too small for the scale of the incident. The IDF announced that Melat was posthumously promoted to captain, and stated that the cause of his death could not be conclusively determined—it is possible he was hit by crossfire directed at the terrorists. The investigation described the evacuation delay as a 'serious failure.'
The Zioneer has been tracking the story since the attack on July 24, which killed Maj. Yuval Ezra and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Binyahu Melat. Earlier reports revealed that the hiking group had entered Areas A and B without authorization for two hours, and that the military was unaware of their route until spotted by a lookout at 07:27. The probe's findings confirm those earlier accounts and add details on command and tactical failures.
The military has not yet announced follow-up actions or disciplinary measures. The ambiguity over Melat's cause of death—whether from terrorist fire or from fire aimed at neutralizing the terrorists—remains unresolved.
12 developments
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- DevelopingStone-throwing attack on hikers near Tel; IDF responds with crowd dispersal
- StrongTwo IDF soldiers killed in Samaria terror attack; IDF Central Command vows intensified operations
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