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Accident – death – Obituary News : RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tragedy struck the besieged territory of Gaza once again as Israeli troops mistakenly shot three hostages to death on Friday. The incident occurred in the battle-torn neighborhood of Gaza City, where soldiers have been engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas militants. In another devastating blow, a Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli strike in the south of the territory.
The deaths of the hostages highlight the intensity of Israel’s ongoing onslaught and come at a time when a U.S. envoy is attempting to persuade the Israelis to scale back their campaign. The hostages, who were mistakenly identified as a threat, were believed to have either escaped from their captors or been abandoned. The Israeli army expressed deep sorrow over the incident and has launched an investigation.
The plight of the hostages has dominated public discourse in Israel since more than 240 people were abducted by Hamas and other militants in an attack that triggered the war. Their families have been leading a powerful campaign calling on the government to do more to bring them home, with daily demonstrations taking place in solidarity.
Despite the Israeli government’s stated aim of freeing all the hostages, no rescues have been made since ground troops entered northern Gaza seven weeks ago. Hamas released over 100 hostages in swaps for Palestinian prisoners last month, but more than 130 are still believed to be in captivity.
The three hostages who were killed were identified as young men who had been abducted from Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called their deaths an “unbearable tragedy” and vowed to continue with efforts to bring all the hostages home safely.
In a separate incident, a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera was killed in an Israeli strike in Khan Younis. The cameraman, Samer Abu Daqqa, was reporting at a school that had been hit by an earlier airstrike when a drone launched a second strike, according to the network. His colleague, Wael Dahdouh, was also wounded in the attack.
Abu Daqqa’s death brings the total number of journalists killed since the conflict erupted to 64, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour accused Israel of targeting journalists who could document their crimes and inform the world.
Israel’s offensive has resulted in the flattening of much of northern Gaza and the displacement of 80% of the territory’s population. The ongoing humanitarian crisis has forced displaced people to seek shelter in overcrowded facilities, mainly in the south.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the offensive has claimed the lives of over 18,700 Palestinians, with thousands more missing and feared dead beneath the rubble. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, previous tallies have shown that women and minors make up around two-thirds of the casualties.
Despite the heavy toll, Hamas has continued its attacks, firing rockets from Gaza toward central Israel. The group’s resilience has raised doubts about whether Israel can defeat it without causing massive destruction to the entire territory.
The United States, while expressing unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties, continues to offer support to Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan recently met with Israeli leaders to discuss a timetable for winding down the intense combat phase of the war.
In addition to discussions with Israeli leaders, Sullivan also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss Gaza’s postwar future. One idea being considered is the return of Palestinian security forces to Gaza, which were driven out by Hamas in 2007. However, any role for Palestinian security forces in Gaza is likely to face strong opposition from Israel.
The U.S. has expressed its desire to see the West Bank and Gaza under a revitalized Palestinian Authority as a precursor to a Palestinian state. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who opposes Palestinian statehood, has made it clear that he will not allow a postwar foothold for the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority.
In the face of the ongoing conflict, Abbas has called for an immediate cease-fire and increased aid to Gaza. However, the 88-year-old Palestinian leader is deeply unpopular, with close to 90% of Palestinians wanting him to resign, according to a recent poll. Despite this, a majority of Palestinians do not support Hamas, indicating a complex political landscape in the region.
As the conflict rages on, the international community continues to watch and hope for a resolution that brings an end to the violence and suffering in Gaza..
