Israeli Troops Mistakenly Shoot Three Hostages in Gaza Strip

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, in Israel’s first acknowledgement of harming any hostages in its war against Hamas.

This incident has sparked anger and is expected to increase pressure on the Israeli government to resume negotiations with Hamas for the release of more captives. Israel currently holds 129 captives and insists that their release can only be achieved through military pressure.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, stated that there will be no further release of hostages until the war ends and Israel accepts Hamas’ conditions for an exchange. While there are unconfirmed reports of a meeting between Israeli and Qatari officials regarding a possible exchange, Hamdan claimed to have no information on this matter.

Israel’s account of how the three hostages died has raised concerns about the conduct of its troops. Palestinians have previously reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians attempting to flee to safety. Hamas has also alleged that other hostages were killed by Israeli fire or airstrikes, but has not provided evidence to support these claims.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that it is likely the hostages had either been abandoned by their captors or had managed to escape. The official stated that the soldiers’ actions were in violation of the rules of engagement and are currently under investigation at the highest level.

Herzi Halevi, chief of the Israeli military’s general staff, acknowledged that the hostages had done everything they could to signal that they were not a threat. However, he noted that the shooting occurred during intense fighting and under immense pressure.

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 militants. These hostages were among the more than 240 people taken captive during a raid by Hamas into Israel on October 7th, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians.

The plight of the hostages has deeply affected public discourse in Israel, with many families demanding their safe return. Rubi Chen, father of 19-year-old hostage Itay Chen, criticized the government for relying on military pressure to retrieve the hostages. Chen emphasized the need for a better offer to secure the release of the hostages, stating, “We don’t want them back in bags.”

According to the Israeli military official, the three hostages emerged from a building close to Israeli soldiers’ positions. They were shirtless and waving a white flag, indicating 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. Although the commander ordered a cease-fire, another burst of gunfire killed the third hostage.

Israeli media provided more detailed accounts of the incident. Yediot Ahronot, a mass circulation daily, reported that soldiers followed the third hostage and shouted for him to come out. At least one soldier shot him when he emerged from a staircase.

Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, presented a similar account, stating that the soldiers believed the third hostage was a Hamas member attempting to deceive them. Earlier, soldiers had seen a nearby building marked with SOS and Help! Three hostages, but they feared it might be a trap.

Dahlia Scheindlin, an Israeli political analyst, suggested that the killings are unlikely to significantly change public support for the war. She explained that most Israelis still strongly believe in the necessity of defeating Hamas and perceive no other viable options.

These killings underscore the dangers faced by hostages in areas of house-to-house combat like Shijaiyah, where nine soldiers were killed this week. The military has revealed that Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops after emerging from an extensive tunnel network beneath Gaza City.

The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum claimed that another hostage, 27-year-old Inbar Hayman, was killed in Gaza. However, no further details have been provided by the group.

Hamas released over 100 hostages in November during a brief cease-fire, but talks regarding further swaps broke down. Hamas has demanded the end of the war and the release of all Palestinian prisoners as conditions for the release of the remaining hostages. As of late November, Israel held nearly 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offenses, including hundreds detained since the war began.

According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, the offensive has claimed the lives of over 18,700 Palestinians. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. While the exact number of women and minors among the dead is unspecified, they consistently make up around two-thirds of the casualties.

Shortly after the ministry’s update, a communications blackout further restricted reporting and visibility of events on the ground. Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, a group monitoring internet outages, stated that this blackout is likely to limit information flow.

Journalists have also suffered during this war, with dozens losing their lives. Funeral prayers were held for Samer Abu Daqqa, a Palestinian journalist working for broadcaster Al Jazeera, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Khan Younis. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Abu Daqqa was the 64th journalist to be killed in the conflict.

The war has devastated northern Gaza and displaced 85% of the territory’s population, forcing them to seek refuge in overcrowded shelters mainly located in the south. The flow of aid into Gaza has been minimal, but Israel has announced plans to open a second entry point at Kerem Shalom to expedite deliveries.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that two Christian women were killed by Israeli sniper fire at a church compound in Gaza City, and seven others were wounded. The victims were identified as a mother and daughter, with one losing her life while trying to rescue the other. Gaza’s small Christian community, consisting of about 1,000 people, has been deeply affected by this tragedy.

Elsewhere in Gaza City, resident Assad Abu Taha reported a violent bombardment, while an Associated Press journalist in southern Gaza witnessed airstrikes and tank shelling in Khan Younis and Rafah.

Despite expressing concerns over civilian casualties, the United States, Israel’s closest ally, continues to support Israel through weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is currently in Israel to discuss a timetable for winding down the intense combat phase of the war.

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