Israeli Families of Tank Shell Victims in Gaza Demand Investigation
Israeli settler families, who lost loved ones in the Be'eri settlement due to an Israeli tank shelling during the military operation on October 7th, are calling for a comprehensive and transparent investigation by the military into the decisions that "led to this tragic outcome." The families are demanding the findings be made public.
These families, who suffered fatalities in the Be'eri settlement "while being held hostages in the home of Assi Cohen," implore the Israeli military to investigate the actions of their forces there.
The families' message was aired on Friday evening during a program on Israel's Channel 12.
The communication reiterated the sequence of events on that day and included statements by Brigadier Barak Hiram to 'The New York Times', in which he admitted ordering the tank to fire, even at the risk of hitting "Israeli civilians".
According to the testimony of two survivors of the shelling, a fierce battle ensued between the fighters of the Qassam Brigades – the military wing of the Hamas movement – and the Israeli military forces that arrived at the house. They confirmed that several settlers were killed by the tank fire.
In response, a spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that the army "will conduct a detailed and in-depth investigation to uncover all details conclusively when the operational situation permits it, and will publish its findings to the public". The spokesperson also praised Brigadier Hiram for giving the orders to shell.
