An Israeli officer admits to shooting his colleagues in accordance with the "Hannibal Protocol"

The Hannibal Protocol permits the use of heavy weapons when capturing an Israeli, even if this poses a danger to the captive (European Archives)

A captain in the Israeli occupation army admitted that he implemented the Hannibal Protocol, which stipulates the killing of Israeli prisoners during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), saying that he saw it as better to stop the kidnapping with regard to the possibility of shooting the captured soldiers.

Speaking to Israeli TV Channel 13, Captain Bar Zonshin’s confession of targeting prisoners confirms allegations that Israeli forces targeted civilians and captured soldiers on October 7th.

Zonshin stated that they spotted two cars on October 7, and there were many people in the cabins of the two vehicles. He said, "I do not know if these are corpses or living people, and I decided to attack the two vehicles."

In response to a question: “Maybe you killed them, because they are your soldiers?” The Israeli captain said, “That is true, but I decided that this was the right decision, and that it was better to stop the kidnapping.” The Israeli officer thus admitted that he may have killed his soldiers.

Regarding the possibility of killing the prisoners, Zonshin said, “I feel that I acted correctly.” Asked whether this decision was an order from the army to implement the Hannibal Protocol, he replied, “Many operational steps had to be taken in this matter. The assembly had to be fired upon.” Central and checkpoints, and if (our soldier) is identified, this thing must be done.”

Hannibal Protocol

It is noteworthy that the Hannibal Protocol permits the use of heavy weapons when an Israeli is captured to prevent the captors from leaving the site of the event, even if this poses a danger to the prisoner.

During the October 7 attack, the Israeli media reported that the occupation army had implemented the Hannibal Protocol, which stipulates the killing of prisoners, and calls were made for an investigation into the matter.

It is noteworthy that on February 6, the Israeli army began an investigation into the killing of 12 Israeli prisoners when an army tank bombed a house in a Jewish settlement on October 7.

On October 7, Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza launched a military operation called the Al-Aqsa Flood, in response to the continuing attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against the Palestinian people, their property, and their sanctities, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel says that Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in the attack and wounded 5,431, and captured about 239 Israelis, including high-ranking military personnel, some of whom it exchanged during a week-long truce for dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Source: Anadolu Agency