Events at Be’eri on October 7 were tragic, and complicated. 101 civilians and 31 security personnel were killed at the kibbutz, and 32 civilians were taken hostage by Hamas. 11 still remain in captivity.
The probe, carried out by Major General Mickey Edelstein, a former IDF commander, deals with the decisions taken by IDF soldiers on the day.
Most notably, the probe investigated IDF conduct at the home of Pessi Cohen – where 14 hostages were held by Hamas. 13 hostages were killed in the fighting between the IDF and Hamas terrorists.
The probe found that Brigadier General Barak Hiram’s order for a tank to fire two rounds at Cohen’s home was “reasonable in view of the conditions,” and the majority of those who died were killed by Hamas fire.
The IDF held the presentation at a hotel where displaced members of Be’eri have been staying since the October 7 attacks.
One kibbutz member said “we feel the [IDF’s] failure in the loss of our 101 members, our loved ones, and our family members, in the 11 members of the kibbutz still in Gaza”.
Kibbutz members demanded the probe continue, and that there be a state inquiry committee which “will leave no stone unturned and examine the conduct of all involved parties”.
Comprehensive answers “will allow us to begin to heal and draw practical conclusions for the future so that the unimaginable loss we experienced will never be experienced again by any other citizen so that we can rebuild our trust in the security forces, and so we can return to live in Be’eri with a sense of security,” one survivor said.
