Omri Shifroni is an Israeli educator who heads the Yitzchak Rabin Pre-Army Leadership Academy, a pre-military leadership program where he previously worked as a counselor and branch head. He is from Kibbutz Be'eri and is a co-founder of Kumu, an Israeli civic movement.
Case
Haaretz reported that Israel's military used the Hannibal procedure on October 7, 2023, and a UN inquiry said Israeli fire likely killed at least 14 civilians in two incidents. The IDF defends its Be'eri tank fire. Mehdi Hasan says Western media ignored the question.
Role at the time: Kibbutz Be'eri resident and relative of hostages killed in Pessi Cohen's house
Statement summary
Omri Shifroni, whose aunt and her grand-niece and grand-nephew were killed in Pessi Cohen's house, told ABC News in Australia that the decision to fire tank shells at the house was "not the right decision, not a good decision and not moral." He said he understood there was great chaos and pressure to end the event, and that he thinks the forces did not intend to kill hostages.
“I think it was not the right decision, not a good decision and not moral. But I can also understand there was great chaos in Be'eri and there was a lot of pressure to end the event there. I think they didn't intend to shoot and to kill hostages, but when you shoot a tank shell on a house, you need to take into account that that is likely to happen.”
The reference point is the Israeli military's use of fire on October 7, 2023, under or in the manner of the Hannibal Directive, that put Israeli captives at risk of being killed by Israeli forces. Shifroni says firing tank shells at a house holding hostages was wrong and not moral. He also says he understands the chaos and pressure and believes the forces did not intend to kill hostages, which explains the decision without endorsing it. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; we used Condemned because his own judgment of the decision is negative.
Statement dates: September 6, 2024
Statement dates: September 6, 2024
Statement dates: September 6, 2024
