By Pesach Benson • March 23, 2026
Jerusalem, 23 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An Israeli farmer killed Near the country’s northern border with Lebanon died from Israeli artillery fire that missed its intended target, in an incident the Israel Defense Forces described as a grave operational failure.
The IDF said it had informed the family of Ofer “Pushko” Moskowitz, 60, a resident of Kibbutz Misgav Am, that initial findings show he was unintentionally struck by shells fired by Israeli forces toward southern Lebanon.
According to the military’s preliminary investigation, an artillery unit launched several shells at a target across the border, but four of them landed inside Israeli territory instead. Two struck a home in the kibbutz, while two others hit vehicles near a local store, including Moskowitz’s car.
Moskowitz was driving toward the community’s avocado orchards when he was hit. Two other residents traveling in a separate vehicle were not injured.
“The IDF is conducting an investigation by all relevant agencies following the shooting at Misgav Am this morning, which resulted in the death of an Israeli citizen,” a military spokesman said. “The possibility that this was a shooting by our forces is being examined. The IDF shares the family’s grief at this difficult time and is in direct contact with the kibbutz.”
The military later confirmed that its working assessment is that the fatal strike was caused by Israeli fire, citing what it called a flawed operational process that “should not have occurred.” The incident remains under investigation.
Initial reports earlier in the day had suggested the fire originated from Lebanon, with Hezbollah claiming responsibility. Early assessments at the scene also considered the possibility of mortar or anti-tank fire from across the border.
An eyewitness said Moskowitz had stopped his vehicle after the first impacts and began filming rising smoke before a subsequent explosion struck his car.
Moskowitz managed the kibbutz’s avocado orchards and was also a member of its local readiness squad, part of civilian emergency response units common in border communities. Days before his death, he had spoken about the risks faced by farmers working close to the volatile frontier.
The kibbutz described him as a central figure in the community and a longstanding advocate for agriculture in the region. He is survived by three daughters and two grandchildren.
Known to most simply as “Pushko,” Moskowitz grew up in Kiryat Bialik and joined Misgav Am in 1983. A member of the kibbutz’s emergency team, he had endured decades of cross-border violence, including rocket attacks and fires, and was deeply embedded in the community he served.
“Pushko. A speaker, farmer, friend, symbol, and legacy for us all,” read a statement from the Misgav Am community. “Throughout the years, he was the prominent voice of all of us. We send our deepest condolences and a strong hug to his family and the entire Misgav Am community. The Galilee will never look the same without him. May his memory be blessed.”
Moskowitz is survived by three daughters and two grandchildren, one of whom was born last week. He had frequently spoken publicly about the challenges facing northern Israeli agriculture under threat of cross-border attacks. In interviews, he stressed the importance of maintaining farming operations even under fire and described the hazards of working along the security fence.
His death brings the death toll in Israel to 16 while another four women in the Palestinian Authority were killed by a cluster bomb in the Hebron area.
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