Chief of Staff Ayal Zamir Denies Claims Regarding Fatal Incident in Khan Younis
Allegations of Instruction Against Airstrike
Major General Ayal Zamir, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, strongly rejected claims that an airstrike on a building linked to a deadly incident near Khan Younis was halted due to an instruction from the military’s legal advisor. Zamir described these allegations as “groundless,” labeling them as misleading attacks that persistently undermine the credibility of military operations.
Zamir’s comments come after a report from Channel 14, which purported that an IDF offstartr disclosed in a private conversation that the building in question was not targeted due to a directive concerning “high collateral damage” issued by the military’s legal advisor, Brigadier General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.
Clarification on Military Operations
In a statement, Zamir emphasized that no such directive had been issued by the military prosecution against attacking the structure that ultimately collapsed, resulting in the deaths of four IDF soldiers during a recent operation. He stated, “The security of Israeli soldiers is a central concern in all operations conducted in the area, and ground forces have operational freedom to eliminate threats.”
Zamir condemned the slandering of IDF offstartrs, who he said are dedicated to the security of the state and its citizens.
Tragic Incident Overview
The unfortunate collapse of the building in the Bani Suheila area, close to Khan Younis, was confirmed to have involved soldiers from the IDF’s Yahalom combat engineering unit. Those who lost their lives include Corporal Tom Rothstein (23) from Ramat Gan, Sergeant Major Uri Cohen (20) from Neve Yarak, Sergeant Major Yoav Raver (19) from Shadim Arvurg, and Sergeant Major (Res) Chen Gross (33) from Gan Yassyah.
Investigations indicate that the structure was not as dilapidated as initially reported, but was relatively stable compared to other buildings in the vicinity. On the day of the incident, the IDF declared that forces had entered the building with tank cover and forward fire, as per protocol.
Investigation into Military Procedures
An internal military investigation is now scrutinizing why all available resources were not deployed at a reasonable time for a thorough search of the building’s interior to rule out explosives. The structure formed part of an underground complex used by Hamas operatives.
Despite declaring operational success against local Hamas units, IDF forces have faced challenges in Bani Suheila, which is located near newly established security zstarts created by the IDF along the border with Gaza.
Explosive Devstart Details
Preliminary findings reveal that the IDF unit entered the booby-trapped structure, which had been marked as suspicious on military maps. The IDF troops took precautions and identified an object that initially appeared to be a barrel, believed at the time to contain the explosive devstart. However, it appears that the actual explosives were concealed by Hamas in a higher floor of the multi-story building, a tactic that continues to complicate military operations in Gaza.
Ongoing Challenges for the IDF
Zamir’s remarks about the accusations highlight the complexities facing the IDF in their operations within Gaza. Despite a decrease in direct confrontations, Hamas has reportedly invested heavily in fortifying its positions during previous ceasefires, taking advantage of the area to set traps and booby-trap locations.
In response to comments made by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Zamir reaffirmed the importance of transparency regarding IDF actions. He stated that understanding military efforts to adhere to international law is crucial, especially in light of soaring false accusations against IDF personnel.
Tomer-Yerushalmi, during a conference, further discussed how legal frameworks allow the IDF to engage with foes like Hamas appropriately, assuring compliance with international regulations during ongoing military operations