“Israeli Troops Mistakenly Shoot Three Hostages Waving White Flag in Gaza Strip”

Accident – death – Obituary News : Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, military officials said on Saturday, marking Israel’s first acknowledgment of harming any hostages in its war against Hamas. The incident has sparked anger and is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew negotiations with Hamas for the release of more captives.

Currently, Israel claims to have 129 hostages, and Hamas has conditioned further releases on Israel halting its air and ground campaign in Gaza. However, Israeli leaders have maintained that the release of the hostages can only be achieved through military pressure. The recent killings have raised questions about the conduct of Israeli troops, as there have been reports of soldiers opening fire on civilians trying to flee to safety.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that it was likely the hostages had been abandoned by their captors or had managed to escape. The official added that the soldiers’ behavior was against the rules of engagement and was being thoroughly investigated.

The three hostages, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Al-Talalka, all in their 20s, were killed on December 15, 2023, in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah during fierce fighting with Hamas militants. 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, and sparked the ongoing war.

The plight of the hostages has dominated public discourse in Israel, with families pleading for their safe return. At a rally in Tel Aviv, Rubi Chen, the father of 19-year-old hostage Itay Chen, criticized the government’s approach and urged them to put the best offer on the table for the hostages’ release.

According to military officials, the three hostages had emerged from a building close to Israeli soldiers’ positions, waving a white flag and without shirts, signaling that they posed no threat. Two of them were killed immediately, and the third ran back into the building screaming for help in Hebrew. Despite the commander issuing an order to cease fire, the third man was also shot and killed.

Israeli media provided more detailed accounts of the incident. Yediot Ahronot reported that soldiers followed the third hostage and shot him when he emerged from a staircase, believing he was a Hamas member trying to deceive them. Haaretz also published a similar account based on a preliminary investigation, stating that soldiers had seen a nearby building marked with “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages” two days earlier but feared it might be a trap.

Dahlia Scheindlin, an Israeli pollster and political analyst, believes that the killings are unlikely to significantly alter public support for the war. She states that most Israelis still believe Hamas needs to be defeated and feel like there is no other choice.

The war has been devastating for Gaza, with over 18,700 Palestinians killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. The war has also resulted in the displacement of 85% of Gaza’s population and has caused significant damage to infrastructure.

Despite concerns from the United States and other international actors about civilian casualties and Israel’s plans for Gaza’s future, the US continues to offer support to Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is set to travel to Israel to discuss a timetable for winding down the combat phase of the war.

The incident involving the mistaken killing of the three Israeli hostages highlights the dangers faced by hostages in areas of intense combat. It also raises questions about the conduct of Israeli troops and the need for accountability in such situations. The pressure on the Israeli government to negotiate for the release of more captives is likely to increase, with families and the public demanding urgent action..