It is true that some Israeli soldiers reported receiving unusual orders to stop patrols near the Gaza border for several hours on the morning of the October 7, 2023, attack
. The testimony of a Golani Brigade soldier, Shalom Sheetrit, delivered to a Knesset lobby, has been a key source for this information, though the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is still investigating the matter. Details from soldiers' accounts:
- The order: According to Sheetrit, his battalion commander issued a directive around 5:20 a.m. on October 7 to halt all patrols along the Gaza fence until 9:00 a.m..
- The context: The order was described as strange, though not unprecedented, by one Golani soldier who also reported being told to stand back from the fence due to a threat of anti-tank missiles.
- The aftermath: Shortly after the order was given, the large-scale Hamas assault, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, began. At least one Israeli military outpost near Kibbutz Be'eri was attacked, and many soldiers were reportedly sleeping when the infiltration occurred.
- The investigation: The testimony has led to speculation that high-level Israeli officials had prior knowledge of the attack and deliberately withheld information, a claim the IDF is reportedly investigating but has not confirmed.
