According to the army�s investigation into the mistaken fire incidents in Gaza that led to deaths and tens of injuries, the tank crew responsible did not err, but acted appropriately to the information of mistaken identity. Four Golani soldiers and a paratrooper were killed by the mistaken fire, with officials explaining the tank crew acted properly but were given erroneous information. Among the many wounded was the brigade commander, Colonel Avi Peled, who Baruch Hashem only sustained light shrapnel injuries.
Peled explains that the building hit by tank fire was being used as a forward command center, explaining both the he and the battalion commander were on the top floor, using the height as a vantage point to maintain a lookout on the surrounding area. They feared there were terrorists in the area, prompting them to request tank fire support. A tank positioned several hundreds meters (yards) away was given the order to fire, but they mistakenly identified the two as terrorists instead of IDF officers. In the second mistaken fire, the tank crew also received the open fire order from a senior officer. The explanation given is the difference in height between the structure and the tank crew led to the erroneous identification of IDF personnel as terrorists.
In both cases report IDF officials following the preliminary investigation, the responsibility does not fall on the tank crews but on the senior commanders. Giving them backing, the commanders of the tank crews have already announced they performed in accordance to direct orders and they are not being removed from the Gaza fighting, but will remain in their posts.
Gaza Command on Tuesday modified the open-fire orders for tanks, demanding yet another confirmation between forces prior to actually firing.
Peled was lightly wounded and refused to permit medic to evacuate him from the scene, personally overseeing the evacuation of all the wounded prior to leaving the area. "I am not a hero? he explains, but "I did what is expected of me as an officer? he explains.
Also among the wounded in the mistaken fire incident was Battalion Commander Lt.-Colonel Oren Cohen, who sustained very serious injuries. Baruch Hashem, his condition is improving and he is no longer in life-threatening danger.
Replacing Cohen temporarily is his predecessor, Lt.-Colonel Yoav Mordechai.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=28469
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