The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" revealed today, Saturday, that an investigation by the Israeli police has disclosed that an Israeli Apache helicopter bombed a music festival in Regim in the Gaza envelope on October 7th. The findings explain that the charred bodies, which numbered around 1,200, were a result of incendiary missiles fired from that aircraft.
"Haaretz" noted today that security estimates have strengthened within the Israeli security establishment, suggesting that those involved in the attacks during the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation on October 7th were not previously aware of the festival taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, and chose to come to the area after discovering that a large event was happening.
The newspaper reported that an Israeli military helicopter arrived at the scene and fired at the militants, also injuring several attendees of the festival. Investigations revealed that the militants intended to reach Kibbutz Re'im and other kibbutzim in the area.
The Hebrew newspaper quoted an unnamed source in the Israeli police stating that the investigation into the events revealed that a military helicopter from the Israeli army arrived at the event from the Ramad David military base and fired at the militants, and it appears that some of the celebrators present were also hit. According to the police, 364 people were killed at the festival.
"Haaretz" also mentioned that high-ranking officials, who were not named, believe that Hamas operatives discovered the festival's presence through drones or paratroopers and directed their elements to the site using their communication system. The allegations reported by the newspaper claim that a video captured by the body camera of a Hamas member showed him asking one of the captured settlers about how to get to "Re'im," despite being in a different area.
Among the evidence supporting these assessments, according to the newspaper’s sources and senior security officials, is that the first militants arrived at the festival from Route 232 and not from the direction of the border fence. The newspaper’s sources in the police indicated that the festival was originally scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and the Israeli army approved, on Tuesday evening the same week, the organizers' request to hold it on Saturday as well.
This last-minute change reinforces the assessment that Hamas was unaware of the festival. The newspaper quoted an unnamed senior official in the Israeli police saying, "In our estimation, about 4,400 people were present at the event, and the vast majority managed to flee after the decision to disperse the festival was made four minutes after a missile volley was launched."
Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" indicated that the Israeli army was responsible for shelling the settlements during the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation on October 7th, publishing admissions from Israeli fighter pilots to the journalist investigating the issue.
The investigation published in the Israeli newspaper raised several questions about Hamas fighters' ability to maneuver the helicopters and warplanes that flew over the settlements. It became evident that the movement avoided running in the streets of the settlements, simply moving normally like ordinary residents, which led the Israeli aircraft to avoid firing at them.
