Forty-eight hours after the deadly terror attack in Kfar Tel in Samaria, the scale of the security failure is becoming clear. What began as a routine hike for a group of Israeli civilians turned into a bloody tragedy within minutes.
2+Exclusive footage obtained by Channel 14 shows the group of dozens of hikers making their way near Kfar Tel. The video clearly captures how dozens of Arab attackers begin moving in an organized manner toward the hikers, then start hurling rocks and stones at them. At this point, the hikers realize the danger and urgently call for help.
During these critical minutes, as tensions escalate on the ground, Binyahu Melet arrives at the scene—a security officer from the nearby community of Havat Gilad—along with another security officer, attempting to push back the mob. With them are several soldiers from an artillery battalion that had recently arrived in the sector.
2+The terrorists, clearly recognizing the soldiers’ hesitation, wait for the right moment. In the chaos, when the security officer standing next to Binyahu lowers his weapon strap, the attackers seize the opportunity, pounce on him and Binyahu, and try to grab their weapons. The gunshots heard in the background are from the security officer’s weapon, which the attacker had grabbed.
In the violent struggle that follows, one terrorist pins them to the ground while a second shoots at point-blank range—killing both Binyahu Melet and officer Yuval Ezra. In those critical seconds, Yuval Ezra can be seen firing several shots into the air—a decision and norm that cost him his life.
2+Only after long, agonizing seconds do two soldiers who were on leave as part of the hiking group realize the military force on the ground isn’t responding. They take action and eliminate the terrorists. In a painful conversation with us, the soldiers describe the moments of terror and level sharp criticism at the military’s conduct and the rules of engagement during the incident.