IOF killed party attendees, Hamas was unaware of event: Israeli probe

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
19 Nov 2023 02:56
7 Shares

Israel media report that an internal security assessment found that Israeli helicopters that arrived at the party site during the October 7 operation killed a number of attendees.

An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter flies over during an aggression on Jenin in the West Bank on June 19, 2023 (AFP)

The Israeli security establishment's assessment regarding the events on October 7 was that Palestinian Resistance fighters unaware of the Nova festival in Kibbutz "Re'im", and only learned about it after gliders reached the area and drones were airborne, Haaretz reported on Saturday.

The Israeli newspaper said that the Israeli police investigation into the incident found that the Palestinian Resistance had planned to reach Kibbutz "Re'im" and other kibbutzes during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, but discovered the party during the infiltration itself.

According to the report, the probe also revealed that some of the attendees of the event were shot by Israeli attack helicopters, which were deployed to the scene after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood began and Al-Qassam Brigades fighters reached the area.

The festival was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday, as well as on Tuesday evening, of the same week, but the Israeli military authorized the organizers to also hold it on Saturday.

The last-minute change, as per the assessment, reinforces the conclusion that the Palestinian Resistance was unaware that a party was held in the area upon launching the operation.

The Haaretz report echoes a previous one by The Electronic Intifada news website, which reported that an Israeli settler who witnessed the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Gaza envelope settlements confirmed that some settlers were "undoubtedly" killed at the hands of Israeli occupation forces.

The settler, Yasmin Porat, told Israeli radio that the incident happened when Israeli occupation forces engaged in a fierce armed confrontation with Palestinian Resistance fighters in Kibbutz Be'eri and "fired indiscriminately" at the fighters and Israeli settlers who were held captive by the Resistance.

"They eliminated everyone, including the hostages," Porat revealed, adding that "there was very, very heavy crossfire" and tank shelling.

Israeli occupation forces killed their own settlers

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal said earlier in a report that there is a probability that crimes were committed by Israeli occupation forces against their own settlers on October 7.

The Israeli military apparatus took actions that most likely led to the killing of a number of Israeli settlers, according to the report. A collection of photo evidence, statements, and testimonies of settlers in occupied territories was the basis for the extensive report published by The Grayzone.

As pointed out in the report, numerous testimonies by Israelis have confirmed that Israeli occupation forces attacked settlers it was supposed to protect, fearing Palestinian Resistance fighters.