IDF Completes Probe Into West Bank Attack That Killed Two Officers, Including Possible Friendly Fire

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday the completion of an investigation into a terrorist attack near the village of Tal in the West Bank last month, which resulted in the deaths of Lieutenant Colonel Yuval Ezra and reserve Captain Benyahu Malat. The probe revealed that the hiking group involved had not coordinated with the military beforehand, despite initial warnings reaching the brigade. Ezra and Malat, both part of a quick response team, bravely charged the assailants during the attack.

The IDF stated that Malat may have been hit by friendly fire, but the investigation did not reach a definitive conclusion on this matter. The initial military force was dispatched after observers reported stones being thrown at the hikers. Additional troops under Ezra and Malat arrived promptly, separating the Palestinians from the Israeli hikers and pushing the attackers back into the village. When the security coordinator’s weapon was seized, the three soldiers acted courageously to protect civilians and neutralize the terrorists.

The terrorists were killed, with two others wounded and all involved arrested. The investigation confirmed that the rules of engagement were clear and allowed soldiers to open fire to eliminate threats. However, the military force was deemed insufficient relative to the scale of the violent incident, the number of hikers, and attackers. Other forces in the area did not perform optimally in situational assessment, reinforcements, or medical response.

A serious failure was noted during the evacuation of Lt. Col. Ezra, as Malat was left wounded on the ground for an extended period, treated only by a civilian medic without military protection. The IDF emphasized this was unacceptable and contrary to its values prioritizing civilian safety. The report also highlighted operational and command shortcomings requiring immediate corrective action.

Ezra had been deployed to the area following heightened alert orders due to recent attacks that injured an Israeli civilian and soldier. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the incident as a severe terror attack, praising the fallen officers’ bravery and commitment to protecting Israeli civilians. He affirmed the IDF’s dedication to thoroughly investigating such events to improve readiness and response.