Yoav Gallant on Hannibal Directive
TL;DR
Yoav Gallant confirmed that the IDF authorized the controversial Hannibal Directive during the October 7th attacks.
Key Points
He confirmed the Hannibal Directive was authorized during the events of October 7, 2023, in an interview given after his dismissal.
Gallant specified that the authorization was applied "tactically" and only in "various places," not universally.
The journalist interviewing him characterized the directive as ordering forces to "shoot to kill when there is a vehicle containing an Israeli hostage," which Gallant did not dispute.
Summary
Yoav Gallant, in his first television interview after being dismissed as defense minister, publicly admitted that the controversial Hannibal Directive was authorized by the Israel Defense Forces during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. He stated that the order was issued "tactically" and applied in "various places" near Gaza, a characterization which was not contested by the interviewing journalist, who clarified the directive meant to "shoot to kill when there is a vehicle containing an Israeli hostage."
This admission is significant as it represents the first public confirmation from a contemporary Israeli minister regarding the directive's use on that day, specifically in relation to Israeli civilians, which contrasts with previous reports suggesting a high command order was issued for the entire region. While other reports indicated an unambiguous order from high command to invoke the directive across the region, Gallant's account suggested an uneven, tactical application rather than a blanket order across the entire area of operations.
Key Quotes
the Hannibal Directive was used by the IDF during the Gaza war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yoav Gallant stated in an interview that the Hannibal Directive was authorized by the IDF during the October 7, 2023, attack. He characterized its use as being tactical and implemented in different areas rather than uniformly. This was the first time a serving or recently serving Israeli minister publicly confirmed its use in that context, according to reports from February 2025.
According to reports of his February 2025 interview, Yoav Gallant confirmed the authorization of the directive, and the journalist clarified the order as shooting to kill a vehicle containing an Israeli hostage. Gallant did not contest this characterization. This context suggests the directive was applied in situations involving Israeli captives, though he noted the application was not uniform across all locations.
Yoav Gallant confirmed the use of the Hannibal Directive in an interview with Israeli television that took place shortly before February 9, 2025. This admission occurred after he was dismissed from his role as Defense Minister in November 2024. The confirmation related specifically to the events of October 7, 2023.