Haaretz Reports IDF Used Hannibal Directive on October 7

The directive, an operational order dating back to 1986, mandates the use of force to stop militants from taking soldiers into captivity, even if such actions result in the death or wounding of the abductees. Documents and interviews with military personnel reveal that early in the Hamas attack, field units received explicit instructions that no vehicles were to return to Gaza. This order effectively turned the border area into a restricted zone where force was authorized regardless of potential collateral damage to those held inside.

Haaretz identified at least three instances where the protocol was deployed, including the use of an unmanned Zik drone at the Erez border crossing. While the Israel Defense Forces have declined to confirm the specific application of the directive during the October 7 offensive, they have previously acknowledged incidents of friendly fire. A prominent case remains the standoff at the home of Pessi Cohen in Kibbutz Be'eri, where 13 of 14 hostages were killed during an IDF operation. The military is currently investigating whether Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram utilized the Hannibal procedure during that engagement. This reporting aligns with recent findings from a United Nations investigation, which concluded that the IDF likely applied the directive throughout the initial hours of the crisis.