IDF chief visits home of border police officer killed amid criticism from family

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Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi visited the home of a border police sniper fatally injured in a riot along the Gaza border on Sunday morning last month to express condolences to the angry family.

Barel Hadaria Shmueli was shot in the head at close range by a Palestinian gunman on August 21 and succumbed to his injuries just over a week later.

His family, along with right-wing activists and opposition lawmakers, accused the military of issuing overly restrictive rules of engagement which they say prevented troops from removing rioters from the fence. border. Shmueli’s father suggested that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett resign following the incident, her mother said she did not trust the government or the military, and the family rejected the IDF investigation, demanding an independent investigation.

The IDF denied that the open-air fire regulations were to blame – noting that Shmueli himself shot the rioters as they rushed to the border – and said the problem was how the troops were deployed.

Responding to criticism, Kohavi published a highly unusual letter on Saturday calling on the public to support the military.

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A society that does not support its soldiers and commanders, including when they make mistakes, will find that it has no one to fight for it, Kohavi wrote in his letter, which was addressed to military commanders.

Border police officer Barel Shmueli who was seriously injured in a shooting at the Gaza border on August 21, 2021. He died of his injuries on August 30. (Borders police)

Referring to the IDF’s investigation into Shmuelis’ death, Kohavi noted that during combat, decisions are usually made in situations of uncertainty, and quickly; So there is always the possibility that mistakes will be made. It was the IDF’s obligation to thoroughly investigate, find out the truth and learn from it, but errors in judgment on the battlefield are not to be blamed and punished, Kohavi said.

“Commanders and soldiers, you have my full support. Continue to initiate and take responsibility, to dare and bear the consequences, he wrote.

In response to Kohavi’s letter, Bennett called the army and senior officers of the IDF Southern Command and assured them they had his support.

“I want you to know it and everyone in uniform to know it: my support for the IDF commanders is total and complete. Whenever there is a battle, there are mistakes. Sometimes they’re tragic, ”Bennett said.

In a statement, the prime minister said the “heartache for the whole country” over Shmueli’s death was “enormous”, and added that her family had the right to say whatever they wanted.

“The family can do anything. It’s our job to give answers, to listen and to embrace, ”he said. He still condemned lawmakers and opposition activists who joined in criticism of the family.

A coffin carrying the body of border police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli during a funeral in Tel Aviv on August 30, 2021. Shmueli died nine days after being shot in the head during riots at the Gaza border. (Police spokesperson)

On Friday, the IDF released the first findings of its investigation into Shmueli’s death, blaming him primarily on how troops were deployed along the Gaza border fence during the riot.

The army’s investigation found that the commander of the northern Gaza brigade may have been slow to respond when rioters rushed against the fence. It was only after the masses reached the barrier that he ordered soldiers stationed further away to take positions closer to the border, where they could repel rioters more effectively, according to the survey.

The IDF investigation discovered that Shmueli himself had fired a number of shots during the riot along the fence, which reinforced the belief that the open fire regulations were not a problem.

The findings of the IDF investigation were presented to Shmueli’s family on Friday morning by IDF southern command chief Major General Eliezer Toledano. His family rejected the military investigation and demanded an independent investigation, blaming his death on the government.

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