Former police official: 'Hamas didn't plan for festival, massacre was almost prevented'

Background on the Mount Meron disaster

On April 30, 2021, a stampede occurred at the annual Lag BaOmer festival on Mount Meron in northern Israel. The incident resulted in the deaths of 45 people and the injury of over 150 others. It was the deadliest civilian disaster in Israel's history.

The festival, which attracts tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews each year, was held despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The site of the stampede was a narrow walkway leading to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a second-century sage who is believed to have revealed the secrets of the Kabbalah.

New revelations about the disaster

A former senior police official who was involved in the investigation into the disaster has revealed that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, did not plan the massacre. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Hamas was "not involved in any way" in the stampede.

The official also said that the stampede was "almost prevented" by police. He said that police had set up a number of checkpoints and barriers in an effort to control the flow of people into the festival site. However, he said that the crowd was so large and unruly that police were unable to prevent the stampede.

Aftermath of the disaster

The Mount Meron disaster has had a profound impact on Israel. The government has ordered a full investigation into the incident, and a number of safety measures have been implemented at the festival site.

The disaster has also raised questions about the role of religion in Israeli society. Some critics have argued that the ultra-Orthodox community's strict adherence to religious customs contributed to the stampede. Others have argued that the government should do more to protect religious freedom.

Conclusion

The Mount Meron disaster was a tragedy that could have been prevented. The former police official's revelations about Hamas's lack of involvement and the police's inability to control the crowd raise serious questions about the safety of the festival and the role of religion in Israeli society.