A recent investigation by Haaretz has uncovered that the Israeli military invoked the controversial Hannibal directive during their response to the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. This directive, which historically applied only to soldiers, permits Israeli forces to prevent the capture of Israelis, even at the risk of endangering their lives. On this occasion, it was also applied to civilians.
A senior source within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the implementation of the Hannibal directive on October 7. The directive was ordered multiple times throughout the day as Hamas forces launched their assault. One significant order was issued at 11:22 am, emphasizing that “not a single vehicle can return to Gaza,” indicating a clear and deadly intention towards the fate of any captives.
Evidence of the directive's execution includes a January report from Ynet, detailing the destruction of approximately 70 vehicles by the Israeli military, many likely carrying Israeli hostages. Haaretz further revealed that in one incident at Kibbutz Be’eri, Israeli tanks shelled a house containing Hamas militants and Israeli hostages, resulting in the death of 13 Israeli civilians, including twin 12-year-old girls.
A UN report cited IDF helicopter fire killing an Israeli woman during her abduction by Hamas, and another incident at the Nova music festival where IDF fire reportedly hit attendees. The source did not disclose who initially gave the order, leaving this to be determined by post-war investigations.
The total casualties from the October 7 attack include 1,163 Israelis, comprising 767 civilians, 20 hostages, and 376 security personnel. An anticipated IDF report may further illuminate the extent of these casualties caused by friendly fire.
This revelation raises critical questions about the ethics and consequences of the Hannibal directive, especially when applied to civilians, and highlights the complex and often tragic realities of conflict situations.
