More than three years after Hamas’ October 7 massacre, a conspiracy theory continues to spread online: that Israel, not Hamas, was responsible for killing its own civilians.
At the center of these accusations is the Hannibal Directive, a controversial former Israeli military procedure intended to prevent soldiers from being captured. Activists across the political spectrum have used it to suggest that the IDF deliberately carried out the October 7 massacre.
But that narrative ignores overwhelming evidence of Hamas’ responsibility.
Hamas terrorists filmed themselves invading Israeli communities, murdering civilians, and kidnapping hostages. The terror group openly claimed responsibility for the operation, and senior Hamas officials subsequently threatened to repeat the attacks.
While questions about possible Israeli friendly-fire incidents deserve investigation, they do not establish that Israel orchestrated the massacre or absolve Hamas of responsibility.
One widely circulated recording from an Israeli police headquarters has also been presented as proof of a deliberate Israeli policy to kill civilians. Yet the footage does not establish that such an order was issued or carried out.
The larger problem is how speculation about Israeli military decisions has been used to rewrite the history of October 7.
Investigating possible friendly fire is legitimate. Using it to erase Hamas’ documented atrocities is not.
Hamas planned and launched the October 7 attacks. No conspiracy theory about the Hannibal Directive changes that.
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© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
