IDF Probe Into Tel Village Attack Examines Whether Benyahu Malt Was Killed by Friendly Fire

An operational investigation presented yesterday (Tuesday) to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reveals the sequence of events in the attack that took place about two weeks ago on the outskirts of the village of Tel, in which battery commander Maj. Yuval Ezra, of blessed memory, and regional defense fighter Capt. (res.) Benyahu Malt, of blessed memory, were killed.

The investigation found that the incident began with a hike held in the area without coordination or approval from security authorities. Hours before the hikers set out, the Samaria Brigade received advance information. But after surveillance soldiers reported that stones were being thrown at the hikers, the first force dispatched to the scene had to split up and escort a group spread across a wide area.

A second flashpoint later developed, where Maj. Yuval Ezra, the security coordinator of the community of Havat Gilad, and Capt. (res.) Benyahu Malt—who joined from reserve duty as part of the emergency response team—arrived. The three were called in to separate the hikers from the Palestinians, but the situation quickly escalated when a medic and civilians were attacked and the security coordinator's weapon was seized by the terrorists.

In those moments, according to the investigation, the forces acted with exceptional courage. Maj. Ezra "moved toward the danger," charged the terrorists, and succeeded in killing one of them. Maj. Ezra was killed during the battle. The remaining terrorists were later eliminated by a platoon commander who arrived at the scene and two hikers who were IDF soldiers on leave. The investigation also determined that it could not be conclusively established whether Maj. Ezra was hit by terrorist fire or by incidental fire during the attempt to neutralize the threat.

The investigation also levels sharp criticism at the way the incident was managed. It found that the force that initially arrived was significantly too small given the scale of the incident, the number of hikers, and the number of attackers. It also found that the other forces operating in the area failed to form a complete real-time picture of the situation, did not deploy reinforcements optimally, and did not dispatch medical forces quickly enough.

One of the most serious findings concerned the evacuation stages. According to the investigation, while Maj. Ezra was being evacuated from the scene, Benyahu Malt remained wounded in the field for long minutes, treated only by a civilian medic and without a military force by his side. The chief of staff described this as "a moral and professional failure that contradicts the foundations of the IDF," stressing that the safety of civilians and the wounded must be the top priority in every operational incident.

Several hours after the attack, security forces raided a hospital in the city of Nablus in broad daylight, where they arrested two additional terrorists who had been wounded during the attack and evacuated for medical treatment.

Following the recommendation of the head of the Personnel Directorate, the chief of staff approved Benyahu Malt's posthumous promotion to the rank of Capt. (res.), in light of the fact that he was in the midst of an officer-training process.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir adopted its findings and ordered the lessons to be implemented immediately. In his words, "We will not accept a situation in which civilians' lives are at risk. IDF forces have a duty to protect Israel's citizens everywhere and at all times. Yuval and Benyahu, of blessed memory, moved toward the danger, demonstrated combat capability, and prevented more severe harm to the hikers. We will continue to investigate every incident professionally in order to improve and strengthen our readiness."