Israeli army promotes Rafah atrocities officer

The Israeli military announced Monday the promotion of Colonel Ofer Winter to the rank of brigadier general within OC Central Command.

Winter was the commander of the Givati Brigade during last year’s ‘Operation Protective Edge’, and oversaw an attack on Rafah, when dozens of Palestinians were killed over a few hours.

Winter implemented the ‘Hannibal Directive’ on August 1, to thwart a suspected kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. An internal army probe later found that “an estimated 800 artillery shells and 260 mortars were fired by the IDF during the battle in Rafah”, as well as airstrikes on 34 “targets”.

Prior to invading Gaza, Winter told his soldiers that they were engaged in a war to “wipe out” an “enemy who defames” God.

The events of August 1 are among those still being examined by the Military Advocate General. Winter’s promotion makes the prospect of a harsh verdict and accountability even less likely.

There were rumours last October that Winter would miss out on promotion, but he ultimately secured the backing of the army’s top leadership.