Responsible IDF colonel resigns as army prepares to present investigation of Nova party massacre

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that findings from its investigation into the Nova festival massacre will be delivered to families of the victims, hostages, and survivors next week. 

On Tuesday, Col. Haim Cohen, who was directly responsible for the security of the area of the Nova party as commander of the Northern Brigade in the IDF's Southern Command, announced his resignation from the IDF over his role in the military’s failures.

The families will reportedly receive text messages with instructions on how to access the findings. The results of the investigation will be released in a targeted way to the families, according to various groupings.

For example, families of hostages will receive a breakdown of the findings with information more relevant to them, and likewise for families of those murdered, and families of fallen soldiers and security personnel. 

While the investigation is part of the broader IDF operational review of its behavior during the Oct. 7 attacks, the findings released next week will focus solely on the events of the Nova festival, not on the surrounding communities. 

Reportedly, there will be separate presentations for families of civilians, fallen IDF soldiers, police officers, and Shin Bet operatives. 

While the IDF released its internal investigation findings into the events of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, the military has agreed to an external investigation as well.

The new IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced on Thursday that they had agreed on an outline for a probe into the events of the Oct. 7 massacre, after Englman had clashed with the previous IDF chief, Herzi Halevi.

Col. Cohen served as the Northern Brigade Commander on the morning of the massacre. In the letter, which was addressed to the Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman he wrote that "On October 7, the brigade under my command did not fulfill its mission to protect the residents of the encirclement, when a sudden war broke out. In the test of results, I failed!!!” 

The IDF's Gaza Division, which is deployed along the border with the Gaza Strip, consists of three brigades: Northern, Central, and Southern. 

Cohen’s brigade had oversight of the Nova festival, Kibbutz Be’eri, and Nahal Oz. On Oct. 7, Cohen chose to manage his brigade’s response to the invasion from the division command center, instead of going to the field to see the action firsthand. 

Unlike Cohen, Col. Asaf Hamami, who commanded the Southern Brigade, led his forces in an advance to the border fence in a futile attempt to stop the Hamas invasion, and was killed in action.

The findings from the IDF’s internal investigation showed that Cohen demonstrated poor operational management of the Nahal Oz base before the war, and that he did not accurately represent the situation on the ground in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. 

In his letter, Cohen recounts his failures, saying he will never forget the events of that day. 

“I will never forget the killing fields of innocent civilians lying in their own blood, the inferno and heroism of the few forces under my command – standby squads and brave civilians, children of light against a barbaric terrorist army,” Cohen wrote.

"I will never forget the deep sense of disappointment from the total surprise and the early hours in which we fought alone. The stench of death and the screams over the radio will never leave my memory.” 

He also encouraged new Chief of Staff Zamir to “lead the army to complete victory.” 

“Chief of Staff, the mission is not over! We must urgently bring back – yesterday already – our brothers languishing in captivity and provide a proper burial for our fallen! I am certain you will lead the army to a complete victory over the cowards. With salute to my fallen brothers and sisters in arms, best wishes for recovery to the wounded, and in prayer for the return of the hostages."

Cohen finished his message to Zamir with a quote from the Psalms. "Hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be courageous, and hope in the Lord.” (Psalms 27:14)