The IDF brass must understand responsibility - opinion

• Published date: 15 March 2024
• Author: YAAKOV KATZ
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Since October 7, Hiram has become famous, although not to his liking. First, there was the report that he ordered a tank commander to fire a shell at a home in Be'eri where hostages were being held at gunpoint by Hamas terrorists. Only two of the 14 hostages in the home survived

Next, was Hiram's decision to blow up the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip without proper approval from the commander of the Southern Command. Apparently, Hiram felt that his soldiers were at risk due to intelligence indicating that tunnels were located under the university and decided to destroy the complex in a controlled explosion. The problem was that he skipped the necessary approval process, a decision that got him reprimanded by OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman.

Finally, there was the news this week that despite these two incidents – and maybe specifically because of them – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to interview Hiram for the role of military secretary to replace Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, who will step down in the coming months.

There is little doubt that Hiram is an accomplished officer who has years of combat experience under his belt. According to IDF sources, he is highly motivated and the kind of combat officer any military would want to have in its ranks, someone who pushes forward, engages the enemy, and runs into fire as opposed to away from it.

What exactly happened in Be'eri on October 7 is an incident that we will not be able to judge. That day was full of rapid decisions that had to be made by commanders who were on the ground with little, if any, intelligence. While the ending was tragic, the circumstances under which Hiram made his decision were complex.

Nevertheless, his story raises some serious questions, particularly the decision to reprimand him by officers whose future is under a cloud. Finkelman is the head of the Southern Command. It was under his watch that the Hamas invasion occurred on October 7. When the war winds down, he is expected to step down alongside IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, who approved the reprimand, and several other high-ranking officers such as Military Intelligence head Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, who amazingly still remains in his position.

Five months into this war, how are these officers are all still safe in their jobs and even reprimanding a division commander for tactical decisions? What about their role in all of what has been happening? How come none of them think they need to pay a...