Israeli Hostages Killed by Israeli Troops in Gaza: A Heartbreaking Tragedy

Accident – death – Obituary News :

Israeli Troops Mistakenly Kill Three Hostages in Gaza Strip

By Julia Frankel, Najib Jobain, and Samy Magdy

JERUSALEM (AP) — In a tragic turn of events, three Israeli hostages were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. Military officials confirmed that the hostages had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, marking Israel’s first acknowledgment of harming any hostages in its ongoing war against Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his profound sadness over the incident, stating that it had shattered not only his heart but also the hearts of the entire nation. However, he 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 affirmed.

The mistaken killings have sparked anger and are likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to resume negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar. These negotiations aim to secure the release of more of the remaining 129 captives in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, reiterated that there would be no further hostage releases until the war ends and Israel accepts their conditions for an exchange. Netanyahu firmly stated that Israel would never agree to such demands.

Israel’s account of the incident has raised questions about the conduct of its soldiers. Palestinians have previously accused Israeli soldiers of opening fire on civilians attempting to flee to safety. Hamas has also claimed that Israeli fire or airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of other hostages, although no evidence has been presented.

An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, admitted that the hostages were likely abandoned by their captors or managed to escape. The official stated that the soldiers’ behavior was “against our rules of engagement” and was being investigated at the highest level.

Despite the hostages’ efforts to signal that they were not a threat, Herzi Halevi, the chief of the military’s general staff, acknowledged that the shooting occurred under the pressure of fighting. He emphasized the obligation and responsibility to ensure the safe return of any hostages who escape or are abandoned during the ongoing conflict.

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

The father of one of the hostages, 19-year-old Itay Chen, criticized the government’s belief that military pressure alone can retrieve the hostages. Rubi Chen called on the government to put the best offer on the table to ensure the safe return of the hostages, stating, “We don’t want them back in bags.”

According to Israeli military sources, the three hostages emerged from a building close to Israeli soldiers’ positions. They were shirtless and waving a white flag, presumably to signal that they posed no threat.

Two of the hostages were killed immediately, while the third ran back into the building, screaming for help in Hebrew. The commander issued an order to cease fire, but unfortunately, another burst of gunfire resulted in the death of the third man, according to the military official.

Israeli media provided additional details, reporting that soldiers followed the third hostage and shouted at him to come out. At least one soldier shot him when he emerged from a staircase. Earlier, soldiers had noticed a nearby building marked “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages,” but they feared it could be a trap.

Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst, believes that these killings are unlikely to significantly alter public support for the war. She stated that most Israelis still strongly believe in the necessity of the war and the need to defeat Hamas.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers hostages face in areas of house-to-house combat like Shijaiyah. In one of the deadliest days for Israeli ground forces, nine soldiers were killed in this neighborhood. The military has stated that Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops using a network of tunnels built under Gaza City.

On Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum reported 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 ceasefire in November. However, talks on further swaps broke down. Hamas is seeking the return of all Palestinian prisoners, while Israel currently holds nearly 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offenses, including hundreds arrested since the war began.

The war has resulted in extensive destruction in northern Gaza and forced 85% of the territory’s population of 2.3 million people to flee their homes. The flow of aid into Gaza has been severely limited, with only a trickle of supplies managing to enter. Israel has announced plans to open a second entry point at Kerem Shalom to expedite aid deliveries.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the offensive has claimed the lives of over 18,700 Palestinians. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. This update is the last before a communications blackout was imposed in Gaza, limiting reporting and visibility of events on the ground.

Journalists have also faced great danger during the conflict. Samer Abu Daqqa, a Palestinian journalist working for broadcaster Al Jazeera, was killed in an Israeli strike, making him the 64th journalist to lose their life in the conflict. Among the casualties, there have been 57 Palestinians, four Israelis, and three Lebanese journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In Gaza City, resident Assad Abu Taha reported ongoing “violent bombardment” on Saturday. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem alleged that two Christian women at a church compound in Gaza City were killed by Israeli sniper fire, and seven other people were wounded. The victims were identified as a mother and daughter. Gaza has a small Christian community of approximately 1,000 people. At the time of writing, there has been no immediate response from Israeli authorities regarding this incident.

While the United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed concerns over civilian casualties, it continues to provide support to Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing.

Israel and the U.S. hold differing views on the future governance of Gaza following the war. The U.S. advocates for a unified Palestinian government in both Gaza and the West Bank as a stepping stone towards eventual Palestinian statehood. A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict enjoys broad international support.

Netanyahu reiterated his stance that Israel will retain security in a demilitarized Gaza, emphasizing that a Palestinian state would pose a threat to Israel. He proudly declared, “I am proud to have prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is currently in 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 fighting until they achieve “complete victory,” acknowledging that it will take time.

Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Iris Samuels in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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