Fact Check: "Roni's call from Nahal Oz warning of Oct 7 breach happened in real-time not pseudo-time"
What We Know
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, overwhelming military bases including Nahal Oz, where a unit of female soldiers known as tatzpitaniyot was stationed. Reports indicate that these soldiers had been observing suspicious activities leading up to the attack, including military training by Hamas fighters and unusual behavior among local farmers near the border (source-1).
Roni Eshel, one of the soldiers at Nahal Oz, made a call to her family during the attack, stating that there were "terrorists in the base" and that a significant event was unfolding (source-1). This call has been characterized as a real-time warning, as it occurred during the initial stages of the Hamas assault, corroborated by other soldiers who reported similar experiences (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Roni's call was a real-time warning rather than a "pseudo-time" warning is supported by multiple eyewitness accounts and recordings. The call was made amidst the chaos of the attack, with Roni reportedly expressing urgency about the situation (source-4). This suggests that the warning was indeed in real-time, as she was directly witnessing the unfolding events.
However, the context surrounding the effectiveness of these warnings raises questions. Despite the observations made by Roni and her colleagues in the days leading up to the attack, there was a significant failure in the military's response to these alerts. Reports indicate that many warnings went unheeded, and there were systemic issues within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that contributed to the lack of preparedness for the attack (source-1, source-3).
The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is generally high, with major news organizations like the BBC and Haaretz providing detailed accounts based on interviews with survivors and families of the soldiers involved. However, it is important to note that some reports may carry biases depending on the outlet's perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Conclusion
The claim that Roni's call was a real-time warning of the breach on October 7 is Partially True. While it is accurate that Roni made a call during the attack, indicating an immediate threat, the broader context reveals that warnings from her unit and others were largely ignored prior to the incident. This highlights a critical failure in the military's response to intelligence, suggesting that while the call was indeed made in real-time, the effectiveness of such warnings was severely compromised by systemic issues within the IDF.
Sources
- They were Israel's 'eyes on the border' - but their Hamas warnings went unheard. BBC
- Questions for IDF over fall of Israel border post Nahal Oz by ... BBC
- How Hamas broke through Israel's border defenses during ... Washington Post
- IDF Releases Recording of Army Spotter Killed on October 7. Haaretz
