Probe into attack near Tel village presented to chief of staff: trip held without coordination or approval

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir received the findings of the investigation into the attack on the outskirts of the village of Tel, in which Maj. Yuval Ezra and Capt. (res.) Binyahu Melt were killed. The probe revealed that the trip was conducted without coordination or approval, and that the force arrived at a numerical disadvantage. Operational and command failures were found, including a deficient medical evacuation process. The chief of staff adopted the conclusions and ordered coordination of entries into areas.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir yesterday (Tuesday) received the findings of the investigation into the attack that occurred on July 24 on the outskirts of the village of Tel in the Samaria Brigade, in which Maj. Yuval Ezra and Capt. (res.) Binyahu Melt were killed, and the security coordinator of Havat Gilad and other civilians were injured by stone throwing. The investigation, presented by Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and IDF Judea and Samaria Division commander Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller, revealed that the trip was conducted without coordination or approval of security forces. The initial force was dispatched following a report of stone throwing and joined the group of hikers. The terrorists were eliminated, two were wounded, and all involved were arrested. The investigation revealed operational and command failures: the force arrived at a numerical disadvantage, poor performance by the soldiers, and a deficient medical evacuation process, including leaving Capt. Melt wounded in the field without a military presence. The chief of staff adopted the conclusions, emphasized the magnitude of the challenge, and ordered adherence to procedures and coordination of entries into areas. He praised the activity of the command and the division that led to the arrest of a terrorist at a hospital in Nablus.