What really happened in Israel on Oct. 7? w/Max Blumenthal | The Chris Hedges Report

The Real News Network・2 minutes read

Israeli military targeted Hamas fighters and Israeli captives during chaotic fighting, using the Hannibal Directive to prevent troops from falling into enemy hands with maximum force. Desperate commanders made difficult decisions, leading to significant casualties among non-combatants, with propaganda efforts justifying military actions.

Insights

  • The Hannibal Directive, a military strategy aiming to prevent Israeli troops from being captured by using maximum force, was implemented during the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, resulting in civilian casualties and the death of Lieutenant Hadar Golden.
  • Propaganda efforts by the Israeli government aimed to justify military actions in Gaza by portraying Hamas as ISIS, while soldiers were instructed to kill Israeli civilians if Hamas gunmen were nearby, showcasing the extreme measures taken during the conflict.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is the Hannibal Directive?

    The Hannibal Directive is a military protocol initiated in 1986 by the Israeli army to prevent Israeli troops from falling into enemy hands by using maximum force. It involves employing aggressive tactics, including shelling houses with occupants to eliminate terrorists and hostages, as seen during the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza.

  • How did Israel respond to the military offensive by Hamas?

    Israel responded to the military offensive by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad with disproportionate force, targeting its citizens with tanks and missiles. This extreme response was aimed at countering the attacks on population centers and military bases, resulting in significant casualties among non-combatants.

  • What actions were taken by Israeli soldiers during the chaotic fighting on October 7?

    Israeli soldiers, facing chaos and desperation, were instructed to unload their ammo, return to base, reload, and then target cars and people on the ground. This led to difficult decisions by commanders, including shelling houses with occupants and using maximum force to prevent Israeli troops from falling into enemy hands.

  • What is the main goal of Hamas' mandate?

    Hamas' mandate involves armed struggle for political demands, including resisting incursions and ending the siege of Gaza. They resort to taking captives as a last resort to spur negotiations due to diplomatic channels being cut off, highlighting their commitment to their political goals through military means.

  • How did the Israeli Foreign Ministry respond to the chaotic events on October 7?

    The Israeli Foreign Ministry shared images of melted cars and charred corpses, likely from missile strikes, as part of their propaganda efforts to justify military actions. This propaganda aimed to portray Hamas as ISIS and create a narrative that supported the extreme measures taken by the Israeli military during the chaotic events on October 7.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Israeli military chaos: Hannibal Directive in action

  • Israeli military targeted Hamas fighters and Israeli captives during chaotic fighting on October 7.
  • Tuval Escapa set up a hotline to coordinate between kibbutz residents and the Israeli army.
  • Desperation led to difficult decisions by Israeli commanders, including shelling houses with occupants to eliminate terrorists and hostages.
  • The Hannibal Directive, initiated in 1986, aimed to prevent Israeli troops from falling into enemy hands by using maximum force.
  • The directive was executed during the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, resulting in the death of Lieutenant Hadar Golden and over 100 Palestinian civilians.
  • Max Blumenthal investigated reports of Israel shelling its own citizens with tanks and missiles for The Grayzone.
  • Israel used disproportionate force on its citizens to counter a military offensive by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
  • Gunmen targeted population centers and military bases, leading to significant casualties among non-combatants.
  • The Hannibal Directive was potentially in play on October 7, evidenced by the destruction at Erez Crossing and Kibbutz Be'eri.
  • Apache helicopter pilots lacked intelligence to distinguish between civilians and combatants on the ground, yet were instructed to empty their tanks.

16:54

Israeli military targets civilians in Gaza chaos.

  • Soldiers are instructed to unload their ammo, return to base, reload, and then target cars and people on the ground.
  • Testimonies of these actions have been ignored by Western media.
  • Orders were given to kill Israeli civilians if Hamas gunmen were nearby.
  • The military doctrine employed in Gaza involves targeting any civilian near a terrorist.
  • Chaos ensued at the Nova Electronic Music Festival with shootings and killings.
  • Many people from Gaza, including lower-level armed faction members, entered the festival area.
  • Heinous killings occurred, with captives being taken by individuals on motorcycles.
  • Israeli Foreign Ministry shared images of melted cars and charred corpses, likely from missile strikes.
  • Propaganda efforts aimed to portray Hamas as ISIS, justifying military actions.
  • A senior Israeli security source claimed 20,000 people were killed in Gaza, potentially leading to genocide.

32:32

Netanyahu's Gaza operation sparks political turmoil.

  • Netanyahu's operation in Gaza aims to rescue hostages, but political dynamics suggest no negotiations are possible.
  • Soldiers in Northern Gaza risk their lives by leaving tanks to take out tunnels, potentially leading to Netanyahu's downfall.
  • The extreme propaganda against negotiations with Hamas has whipped the Israeli public into a fervor.
  • Hamas' mandate involves armed struggle for political demands, including resisting incursions and ending the siege of Gaza.
  • Taking captives was a last resort to spur negotiations due to diplomatic channels being cut off.
  • Israeli society is depicted as genocidal, with viral videos mocking Palestinian suffering and advocating for ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.