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Accident – death – Obituary News : Title: Three Israeli Hostages Mistakenly killed by Israeli Troops in Gaza Strip
Subtitle: Mistaken killings increase pressure on Israeli government to renew negotiations with Hamas
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Date: December 16, 2023
Author: The Associated Press (Julia Frankel, Najib Jobain, and Samy Magdy)
Word Count: 625 words
JERUSALEM – In a tragic incident, three Israeli hostages were mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip on Friday, December 15, 2023. The hostages, identified as Yotam Haim, 28, Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samer Talalka, 25, were waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, according to an Israeli military official.
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The incident has sparked anger and is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew negotiations with Hamas over swapping more captives for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Hamas has conditioned further releases on Israel halting its punishing air and ground campaign in Gaza, which is currently in its 11th week.
Protests have erupted across Israel, with demonstrations outside the nation’s military headquarters on Friday night and a major demonstration planned for Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. The hostages’ families have led a powerful public campaign calling on the government to do more to bring them home.
The account of how the hostages died has raised questions about the conduct of Israeli ground troops. Palestinians have reported on several occasions that Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians trying to flee to safety. The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the soldiers’ behavior was “against our rules of engagement” and was being investigated at the highest level.
According to Israeli media reports, a sniper identified the three hostages as suspects when they emerged from a building, despite them not being armed, and shot two of them. The third hostage ran back into the building and hid, but when he emerged from a staircase, he was shot by another soldier.
The mistaken killings have further complicated the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Hamas released over 100 hostages for Palestinian prisoners during a brief ceasefire in November, but talks on further swaps broke down. Hamas is seeking the release of more veteran prisoners in exchange for female soldiers it is holding.
The offensive has taken a toll on both sides, with the death toll in Gaza reaching over 18,700, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Thousands more are missing and feared dead beneath the rubble. The war has also displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, causing a spiraling humanitarian crisis.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza. However, the White House continues to offer wholehearted support.
The tragic incident of the mistaken killings highlights the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The pressure on the Israeli government to restart negotiations and secure the release of remaining hostages is mounting, as protests continue and public discourse in Israel focuses on bringing the hostages home.
Disclaimer: This article is a work of fiction and does not represent real events or individuals..
