The Military Advocate-General announced on Tuesday that it has closed the criminal investigation into Col. (res.) Yoav Yarom regarding the deaths of Sgt. Gur Kehati and Ze’ev “Jabo” Hanoch Erlich in southern Lebanon, citing insufficient evidence for charges.
Families of the fallen were informed of the decision, the IDF said.
According to the IDF, the team came under Hezbollah fire during a review mission near Kfar Shama in November 2024, resulting in the deaths of Kehati and Erlich and injuries to two others. Investigators concluded the evidentiary threshold for criminal liability was not met.
The IDF said the case was heard before the MAG and that additional material, including testimony from the patrol commander, was considered. While the criminal file was closed, the MAG recommended command-level measures.
The army reiterated its commitment to supporting the families. It added that the decision addressed both the mission's operational planning and Erlich’s entry into Lebanon.
What happened to Kehati and Erlich in Lebanon?
Kehati, 20, a medic from the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, was named by the IDF the day after the incident in southern Lebanon.
The civilian killed in the same incident was identified as Erlich, 70, who had entered Lebanon without authorization.
Attorney Ran Cohen Ruchberger, who is representing the Kehati family, said: “The bereaved family received the Military Advocate General’s announcement with shock, frustration, and pain. The long wait in the hope that justice would be done has ended in disappointment. The family cannot understand how, only two months ago, the Military Advocate General announced its intention to file an indictment against Yarom for the offense of reckless homicide, and today the decision has been reversed.”
The statement continued: “Nothing will bring the late Gur back to his family, but the least that is required is that those responsible for the disaster be held to account for their crime. The family will decide how to proceed, also in light of the fact that the announcement was delivered just one day before the applicability of the Military Justice Law to the suspect expires.”