Israeli probe says military likely killed two settlers on October 7

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Jan 2025 10:33
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An investigation by the Israeli occupation military concludes that soldiers likely killed Tomer Eliaz-Arava and his mother, Dikla Arava.

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An Israeli soldier covers his ears as an artillery gunner fires into the Gaza Strip from a position in southern occupied Palestine, on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 (AP)

The Israeli military stated on Friday that an internal investigation likely concluded it was responsible for the killing of two settlers during confrontations with Palestinian Resistance fighters during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

The investigation, which gathered testimonies from Israeli soldiers and settlers, sought to determine how Tomer Eliaz-Arava and his mother, Dikla Arava, residents of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, were killed.

According to the Israeli military, the inquiry claimed that 17-year-old Eliaz-Arava was initially taken captive by Palestinian fighters and coerced into going door to door, urging residents to come outside.

After approximately 90 minutes, Eliaz-Arava reportedly managed to escape and hide. Israeli soldiers responding to the attack on the kibbutz then observed “a suspicious figure” and opened fire.

"The inquiry concluded that it is highly likely the figure was Tomer Eliaz-Arava, who was mistakenly killed by (Israeli army) fire due to a misidentification," the military stated.

Meanwhile, the inquiry determined that Palestinian fighters had taken captive Eliaz-Arava’s mother, Dikla, and were transporting her toward Gaza in a vehicle.

"During the drive towards Gaza, the vehicle was fired upon from the rear," resulting in her death.

"The inquiry suggests a reasonable possibility that Dikla Arava was killed by (Israeli army) fire," the Israeli military said, adding that "in both cases, it is not possible to determine with absolute certainty what caused the deaths."

The investigation follows concerns that some Israeli fatalities on October 7, 2023, may have been caused by "friendly fire".

In Kibbutz Be'eri, witnesses reported to Israeli media that an Israeli military tank fired at a residence where 14 people were being held by Palestinian fighters.

According to official Israeli figures, 1,208 people were killed on October 7 and an additional 251 were taken captive.

Following the operation, "Israel" launched a war on the Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, as per the Health Ministry in the enclave, which the United Nations deems reliable.

Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza have also held the Israeli occupation military responsible for the death of several captives held in the besieged strip due to heavy bombardment.

In early December 2024, the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas announced that 33 Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance had been killed, with some reportedly disappearing.