Golani officers reprimanded over soldier's accidental death
Commander of 51st battalion, as well as squadron and company commanders reprimanded by IDF chief Ashkenazi after military's inquest reveals a series of command, protocol failures led to accidental shooting of Or Hadad in August
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi on Thursday reprimanded the commander of the Golani Brigade's 51st Batallion, as well as the squadron and company commanders over the accidental death of Sergeant Or Hadad, who was killed by a comrade in August.
The military's inquest of the incident revealed a series of command and protocol failures.
The soldier who killed the 20-year-old Hadad, Sergeant Daniel Dresner, is facing manslaughter charges.
Related articles:
Soldier killed by misfire at northern base
Soldier arrested in Golani misfire death
Soldier who misfired suspected of negligence
According to the inquest, both the company commander and its staff sergeant were not present on the day of the incident, leaving the squad commander in charge. The latter granted some of the soldiers' request to skip the routine weapons check, since some of them did not have a chance to clean their rifles.
The squad commander began inspecting Dresner's gear and once he was finished, two soldiers – one of whom was Hadad – approached him. Hadad apparently commented on a piece of Dresner's equipment before walking away. At this time, Dresner began demonstrating the proper way to fire his rifle – a standard issue Tavor assault rifle – to the third soldier.
It is believed that Dresner had Hadad in his sights, acknowledged that to the third soldier and pulled the trigger, thinking that since the rifle had no magazine in it, it had been properly discharged.
Hadad, standing some 22 yards away, suffered a fatal shot to the back.
