Israeli army ‘widely employed’ Hannibal Directive to target its citizens on 7 October

On October 7, during a Hamas-led assault, the Israeli military applied a directive allowing its forces to potentially harm Israeli citizens, according to a report by Haaretz on Sunday. The Israeli Air Force bombed at least three military facilities and positions during the attack.

Additionally, heavy firing was directed at the Gaza-Israel border area as Palestinian fighters were returning with captured Israelis. This area was intended to be a “killing zone,” according to a source in the Israeli military’s Southern Command.

An order issued a few hours after the attack stated that “no vehicle should be allowed back into Gaza,” which could result in the death of kidnapped Israeli civilians or soldiers. These directives, known as the “Hannibal Directive,” were widely enforced that day, Haaretz reported.

The Hannibal Directive, when active, authorizes the Israeli military to take all necessary measures to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers, even if it means risking their lives.

Haaretz’s report is based on documents and testimonies from soldiers and military officers. While the exact number of Israelis affected by these orders is unclear, data suggests that many captured individuals were exposed to Israeli gunfire and faced significant danger.

One publicly known incident involved Israeli forces killing 13 citizens, which attracted widespread attention. The Israeli military is currently investigating other incidents from October 7, with findings to be published soon.

During the attack on southern Israel, more than 1,150 Israelis and foreigners, including around 30 children and 300 women, were killed. Palestinians took 250 people captive, including civilians and soldiers, with around 120 still in Gaza. Many are believed to have died in Israeli airstrikes.

Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 38,000 Palestinian deaths, including at least 17,000 children and over 10,000 women. Israeli forces have also detained between 4,000 and 5,000 Palestinians from Gaza, with nearly 3,000 still in custody, including some who have reportedly died under torture.

The Haaretz report highlights that Israeli commanders made decisions in the chaotic early hours of October 7 without reliable information. There was significant confusion, with no clear understanding of the number of kidnapped individuals or the locations of military forces.

One of the first uses of the Hannibal Directive occurred at 7:18 am when a drone strike was ordered on the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing following a kidnapping report. The Beit Hanoun crossing and nearby military base were targeted multiple times throughout the day.

Other sites hit by Israeli fire included the Reim base, which houses the divisional headquarters, and the Nahal Oz military outpost. According to a military source, decisions were made knowing that Israeli soldiers in the area could also be affected.

Brigadier-General Avi Rosenfeld, the commander of the Gaza Division, ordered all forces to fire mortars towards Gaza despite limited information on the positions of forces and civilians. People hiding in the area might have been within the firing range. Later, the order was expanded to prevent any vehicle from reaching Gaza.

While there was no explicit instruction to target vehicles carrying kidnapped individuals, it was understood that vehicles could potentially be carrying such individuals. At least one Israeli civilian was killed in the area due to military actions. Many Palestinians, including journalists and civilians near the fence, were also killed or are still missing following these attacks.