Israeli forces, specifically a military helicopter, fired into the Nova music festival crowd on October 7, 2023, after Hamas fighters arrived, according to Israeli media investigations. Haaretz and Yedioth Ahronoth reported pilots struggled to identify Hamas militants among 4,400 civilians, "apparently" wounding some participants. Former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed Israel's controversial Hannibal Directive, authorizing heavy firepower even at risk to its own soldiers, was authorized in some areas during the attacks, though not explicitly linked to Nova.
Following these reports, Israeli police contradicted their own unnamed sources, and the Military Censor imposed wide-ranging restrictions on coverage. Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai also declared "zero tolerance" for Gaza-supporting demonstrations, creating a suppressive environment. This sequence highlights an existing architecture for information control, making investigative reporting on friendly fire and Hannibal-adjacent operations challenging. The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry is documenting civilian killings, but detailed findings on the Nova helicopter fire are still awaited amidst state resistance.
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