Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz instructed the IDF to hand over the complete observation-post recordings from the Gaza border to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives on October 7, exempting only certain elements that require redaction for security purposes. Katz explained that this course of action was chosen to ensure full openness for the bereaved families, in line with his order to finalize investigations before January.
Yesterday, after the families’ prolonged struggle and a petition to the Supreme Court, the IDF revealed that it would provide the recordings, but the material was incomplete and did not encompass every hour from the evening of October 6 until the morning of October 7.
Reacting to Katz’s remarks, an IDF representative reaffirmed their commitment to the bereaved families, stating they had no intention of concealing facts. They clarified that the recordings given out came after extensive reviews and meticulous handling. They emphasized that the materials shared do include voices belonging to the fallen soldiers. “The IDF will allow all families to schedule a time to hear the entire recording up to the start of the terrorist attack. The IDF is responsive to the families’ requests, does not intend to cause additional suffering to the families, and regrets any harm caused if any occurred,” said the IDF.
Eyal Eshel, the father of soldier Roni who fell in Nachal Oz on October 7, voiced profound dismay about how the IDF delivered the footage from the day before the massacre. “Some parents received it via email, some on a USB stick. As for content – almost nothing. I say it with great sorrow: the cover-up and concealment continue in full force. We thought maybe the IDF learned something from what happened here, from the disappointment and frustration, but we see they continue to deceive people and mainly to lie,” Eshel stated in an interview with 103FM.
{Matzav.com Israel}