“Israeli Troops Mistakenly Shoot and Kill Three Hostages in Gaza Strip: Prime Minister Netanyahu Expresses Heartbreak”

Accident – death – Obituary News : JERUSALEM (AP) — In a tragic turn of events, three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip were waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, military officials said on Saturday, marking Israel’s first public acknowledgment of harming any hostages in its ongoing war against Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his grief and the nation’s heartbreak over the killings in a nationwide address, but made it clear that there would be no change in Israel’s intensive military campaign. “We are as committed as ever to continue until the end, until we dismantle Hamas, until we return all our hostages,” he stated.

The mistaken killings have sparked anger and are likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew Qatar-mediated negotiations with Hamas for the release of the remaining captives. Israel claims that there are currently 129 hostages in Palestinian captivity. However, a senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, reiterated that there will be no further hostage releases until the war ends and Israel agrees to the militant group’s conditions for an exchange. Netanyahu firmly stated that Israel would never agree to such demands.

Israel’s account of how the three hostages were killed has raised questions about the conduct of its soldiers. Palestinians have previously claimed that Israeli soldiers open fire on civilians trying to escape to safety. Hamas has also alleged that other hostages were killed by Israeli fire or airstrikes, although they have not provided any evidence to support these claims.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli military official stated that the hostages were likely abandoned by their captors or had managed to escape. The official acknowledged that the soldiers’ behavior was against the rules of engagement and that an investigation was underway at the highest level. The official also emphasized the military’s obligation and responsibility to rescue hostages alive.

The three hostages, all in their 20s, were killed on Friday in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah, where Israeli troops are engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas. They were among over 240 people taken hostage during a raid by Hamas into Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

At a rally in Tel Aviv, Rubi Chen, the father of 19-year-old hostage Itay Chen, criticized the government’s reliance on military pressure to retrieve the hostages. He urged the government to put the best offer on the table to secure the safe return of the hostages. “We don’t want them back in bags,” he pleaded.

According to Israeli military officials, the three hostages emerged from a building close to Israeli soldiers’ positions. They waved a white flag and were shirtless, possibly indicating that they posed no threat. However, two of them were killed immediately, and the third ran back into the building screaming for help in Hebrew. Although the commander issued an order to cease fire, the third man was killed by another burst of gunfire.

Israeli media provided additional details, reporting that the soldiers followed the third hostage and shouted at him to come out. At least one soldier shot him when he emerged from a staircase. The soldiers believed that the third hostage was a member of Hamas. It was also reported that soldiers had earlier seen a nearby building marked “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages,” but feared it might be a trap.

Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin believes that the killings are unlikely to significantly impact public support for the war. She stated that most Israelis still have a strong sense of why the war is being fought and believe that Hamas needs to be defeated. She added, “They feel like there’s no other choice.”

The killings highlight the dangers faced by hostages in areas of house-to-house combat, such as Shijaiyah, where nine Israeli soldiers were killed this week, making it one of the deadliest days for Israeli ground forces. The Israeli military has stated that Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops from a tunnel network in Gaza City.

On Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum claimed that another hostage, 27-year-old Inbar Hayman, had been killed in Gaza. However, no further details were provided.

Hamas previously released over 100 hostages for Palestinian prisoners during a brief cease-fire in November. The majority of those freed on both sides were women and minors. However, talks on further swaps broke down.

Hamas is seeking the return of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. As of late November, Israel was holding nearly 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offenses, including hundreds who were rounded up since the war began.

The ongoing war has devastated much of northern Gaza and forced 85% of the territory’s population of 2.3 million from their homes. Only a trickle of aid has been able to enter Gaza. Israel has announced plans to open a second entry point at Kerem Shalom to expedite the delivery of aid.

According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, the offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 18,700 Palestinians. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. However, this update is likely to be the last before a communications blackout in Gaza.

The war has also taken a toll on journalists, with Palestinian journalist Samer Abu Daqqa becoming the 64th journalist to be killed in the conflict. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 57 Palestinians, four Israelis, and three Lebanese journalists have lost their lives.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, resident Assad Abu Taha reported intense bombardment on Saturday. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem claimed that two Christian women at a church compound in Gaza City were killed by Israeli sniper fire, and seven others were wounded. Gaza has a small Christian community of about 1,000 people. Israeli authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

While the United States has expressed concerns over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties, it continues to support Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. However, the U.S. and Israel remain at odds over who should govern Gaza after the war. The U.S. aims to see a unified Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank as a stepping stone towards eventual Palestinian statehood. In contrast, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will retain security in a demilitarized Gaza and expressed pride in preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is currently traveling to Israel to continue discussions on a timetable for winding down the intense combat phase of the war. However, Netanyahu and military leaders have vowed to continue the fight until “complete victory” is achieved, acknowledging that it will take time..