On October 7, 2023, a Hamas-led terror attack resulted in the deaths of over 800 civilians and around 300 soldiers, marking the bloodiest single day in Israel's history.

In the aftermath, testimonies emerged suggesting that Israeli forces may have unintentionally killed their own citizens while responding to the attack.

Reports indicate that Israeli civilians were also fired upon by their own military during attempts by Hamas to abduct them.

There are allegations that commanders ordered troops to fire on captured soldiers and vehicles returning to Gaza, which could have been carrying hostages.

The IDF's investigation concluded that most hostages were likely killed by terrorists, not by Israeli fire, although survivors dispute this claim.

Survivors and relatives are questioning the Israeli military's actions, particularly whether the controversial 'Hannibal Directive' was invoked during the chaos of the attack.

The IDF has not confirmed or denied the application of the Hannibal Directive during these events, stating that investigations are ongoing.

The Hannibal Directive allows Israeli forces to target enemies holding Israeli soldiers hostage, even at the risk of harming the hostages.

Critics argue that the directive has been misinterpreted to mean that Israeli soldiers could be intentionally killed to prevent their capture.

A specific incident in Kibbutz Be'eri involved a tank firing on a house known to contain both hostages and Hamas gunmen, resulting in civilian casualties.

Air force pilots reportedly fired large amounts of ammunition at thousands attempting to cross the border, with claims of indiscriminate targeting.

Israeli philosopher Asa Kasher criticized the application of the Hannibal Directive on civilians, stating it contradicts democratic values.