Family of soldier killed in dubious Lebanon incident says Halevi took responsibility
Relatives of Sgt. Gur Kehati, killed with civilian researcher Ze’ev Erlich, say IDF chief met them and vowed to monitor probe even after his term ends in March
Relatives of a soldier killed in November alongside a civilian archaeologist who was brought into southern Lebanon without official authorization told Hebrew media they had met on Friday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and that he took responsibility for the incident in which Golani Brigade combat medic Sgt. Gur Kehati fell.
The Haaretz daily reported that the meeting with Halevi and IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was attended by the soldier’s parents, Ron and Maayan Kehati, and his grandfather, Assaf Agmon.
The IDF chief reportedly said he would do everything in his power to properly investigate the fatal incident and vowed to follow up even after he ends his term next month.
Kehati’s family has accused military authorities of blurring the circumstances of the incident, saying they only learned that the soldier had died outside ordinary combat activity from the media.
His grandfather was quoted by Haaretz as saying that the family came out of the meeting with the impression that Halevi “understood the seriousness of the incident, that touched the very soul of the IDF and its values.”
“We will not be silent or rest until all the commanders involved have the integrity to tell the truth,” Agmon was quoted as saying.
The Ynet news site quoted the family as telling Halevi about “commanders who came and told us half-truths and even lies” following the soldier’s death, reiterating previous claims that the IDF did not initially inform them that Kehati was killed while accompanying historian Ze’ev Erlich through a crusader castle.
Questions have swirled around the deaths of Kehati, 20, and Erlich, 71. They were both killed on November 20 by Hezbollah gunmen in the southern Lebanese village of Shama. Erlich was killed instantly, and Kehati was shot and killed while rushing to provide medical aid to a wounded comrade.
Kehati’s family believes that former Golani Brigade chief of staff Col. Yoav Yarom, who invited Erlich on a tour of the fortress and who was also shot and wounded in the incident, gave false testimony about his decision to allow the civilian researcher into southern Lebanon.
In December, relatives of the fallen soldier interrupted a memorial conference for Erlich in the West Bank settlement of Shavei Shomron, demanding that Kehati’s sacrifice also be acknowledged.
Last month, Halevi ordered the Military Police to expedite a criminal investigation into the incident and froze a separate probe — which could result in disciplinary measures, but not criminal charges — until the Military Police probe has been completed and its findings handed over to the Military Advocate General.
Though Erlich had an IDF uniform and was accompanied by a senior officer, the researcher had no official authorization from the army to be in Lebanon, where he was reportedly attempting to study a medieval fortress and nearby shrine revered by Christians and Shiite Muslims as the 1st-century burial place of Saint Peter.
The IDF retroactively recognized Erlich as a major in the reserves despite him not being on active duty when he was killed.
Ynet reported that the Kehati family had requested a meeting with the IDF chief of staff three days after Gur was killed, but was only granted a meeting on Friday.
The November incident occurred a week before a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brought to a halt more than a year of hostilities.
Also Friday, the IDF said Halevi met with former hostage soldiers Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev, who were released from Gaza last month after over 15 months in Hamas captivity.
The fifth surveillance soldier released from Hamas captivity, Daniella Gilboa, was not present, the IDF said.
Halevi apologized to the four for their warnings not being treated seriously before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, as well as for their long captivity.
“It was wrong to have not taken you seriously, you were amazing soldiers, I apologize for what you experienced in captivity,” Halevi said to the soldiers, according to leaked remarks.
Halevi announced last month that he would be resigning from the military over his roles in the failures that led to the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, onslaught.
The announcement came 15 months into the war sparked by Hamas’s attack and two days after the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release deal with the Palestinian terror group went into effect. Halevi’s departure is slated to take place days after the end of the first stage of the Gaza deal, to be replaced by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir.
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
