A recent report reveals that an Israeli military helicopter, responding to an October 7 attack by Hamas, inadvertently injured festival participants while targeting Palestinian gunmen. The assessment, based on a police investigation with detained Hamas members, indicates that the gunmen had no prior knowledge of the festival near Kibbutz Re’im, close to Gaza’s borders.
According to Haaretz, the military helicopter arrived at the festival site and opened fire on the Hamas gunmen, inadvertently causing injuries among festival-goers. Yedioth Ahronoth’s report suggests that Israeli forces had difficulty identifying Hamas militants, leading to the use of artillery against civilians at the festival.
The report claims that Hamas instructed its fighters to blend in with the crowd, aiming to deceive the air force into mistaking them for Israelis. This deception initially worked until the confusion forced helicopter pilots to take action independently.
The investigation contradicts the official Israeli narrative that Hamas gunmen deliberately targeted festival attendees, claiming 364 lives. The surprise Hamas operation, named “Al-Aqsa Flood,” led to an intense Israeli retaliatory offensive on Gaza, resulting in over 12,300 Palestinian casualties, while Israel’s official death toll stands at approximately 1,200.
The ongoing conflict has left Gaza in ruins, with thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed, including hospitals, mosques, and churches. An Israeli blockade has exacerbated the crisis, severing Gaza from essential resources such as fuel, electricity, and water. Despite mounting calls for a ceasefire, Israel has resisted until the release of hostages held by Hamas. The situation continues to escalate, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
