Israeli Troops Mistakenly Shoot and Kill Three Hostages in Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM — In a tragic turn of events, three Israeli hostages were mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. Military officials confirmed that the hostages were waving a white flag and were shirtless at the time of the incident, marking the first acknowledgment of harm to hostages by Israel in its war against Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his deep sorrow during a nationwide address, stating that the killings had broken his heart and the heart of the entire nation. However, he emphasized that there would be no change in Israel’s intensive military campaign, affirming their commitment to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of all remaining hostages.

The mistaken killings have sparked anger and are expected to increase pressure on the Israeli government to resume negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar, in order to secure the release of more captives. Israel currently holds 129 hostages, and Hamas has demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange. However, Netanyahu firmly stated that Israel would not agree to such demands.

Israel’s account of the incident has raised questions about the conduct of its soldiers. Palestinians have previously claimed that Israeli soldiers opened fire on civilians attempting to flee to safety. Hamas has also accused Israel of killing hostages through airstrikes or gunfire without presenting evidence.

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, reiterated that no further hostage releases would occur until the war ends and Israel accepts the militant group’s conditions for an exchange. Meanwhile, an anonymous Israeli military official admitted that the soldiers’ behavior went against their rules of engagement, and an investigation is underway at the highest level.

According to the official, it is believed that the hostages were either abandoned by their captors or managed to escape. The soldiers’ actions were described as a result of the intense fighting and pressure they faced. Herzi Halevi, chief of the military’s general staff, emphasized the responsibility to rescue any remaining hostages alive.

The three hostages, all in their 20s, were killed in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah during the ongoing fierce fighting with Hamas. These hostages were among the more than 240 people taken captive during a raid by Hamas into Israel on October 7th, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians.

At a rally in Tel Aviv, Rubi Chen, the father of 19-year-old hostage Itay Chen, criticized the government’s reliance on military pressure to retrieve the hostages. He urged the government to put the best offer on the table to ensure the safe return of the hostages, emphasizing that their families did not want to receive them back in body bags.

The Israeli military official revealed that the three hostages emerged from a building near Israeli soldiers’ positions. They were shirtless and waving a white flag, presumably trying to communicate that they posed no threat. However, two of them were immediately killed, and the third ran back into the building, screaming for help in Hebrew. Despite a cease-fire order, he was fatally shot by another burst of gunfire.

Israeli media provided further details, stating that the soldiers followed the third hostage and called for him to come out. When he emerged from a staircase, at least one soldier shot him. The soldiers believed he was a Hamas member. Additionally, nearby buildings marked with “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages” were observed by the soldiers, but they feared it might be a trap.

Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin believes that these killings are unlikely to significantly alter public support for the war. She explains that most Israelis still strongly believe in the necessity of defeating Hamas and view the war as the only choice they have.

These tragic incidents highlight the dangers faced by hostages in areas of intense house-to-house combat like Shijaiyah. Nine Israeli soldiers were killed there this week, making it one of the deadliest periods for Israeli ground forces. The military has reported that Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops through a network of tunnels beneath Gaza City.

On Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum claimed 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 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a brief cease-fire in November. Talks on further swaps broke down.

Hamas seeks the return of all Palestinian prisoners, and as of late November, Israel held nearly 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security offenses, including hundreds arrested since the war began.

The war has caused extensive destruction in northern Gaza and forced 85% of the territory’s population, totaling 2.3 million people, to flee their homes. However, only a limited amount of aid has been able to enter Gaza. Israel has announced plans to open a second entry point at Kerem Shalom to expedite aid deliveries.

According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, the offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 18,700 Palestinians. However, the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. This update was the final one before a communications blackout in Gaza, limiting reporting and visibility of events on the ground.

Journalists have also faced deadly risks during the war. Palestinian journalist Samer Abu Daqqa, working for broadcaster Al Jazeera, was killed in an Israeli strike, making him the 64th journalist to lose his life in the conflict. Among the casualties, 57 were Palestinians, four were Israelis, and three were Lebanese, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In Gaza City, Assad Abu Taha reported ongoing violent bombardment, while the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem claimed that two Christian women were killed by Israeli sniper fire at a church compound. Seven other individuals were reportedly wounded. The victims were identified as a mother and daughter. Gaza has a small Christian community comprising approximately 1,000 people. No immediate response from Israeli authorities has been reported.

Despite expressing unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties, the United States, Israel’s closest ally, continues to offer support through weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. However, significant differences remain between Israel and the U.S. regarding the future governance of Gaza after the war. The U.S. advocates for a unified Palestinian government in both Gaza and the West Bank as a step towards eventual Palestinian statehood. Meanwhile, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to retaining security in a demilitarized Gaza, claiming that a Palestinian state would pose a threat.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is traveling to Israel to continue discussions on a timetable for winding down the intense combat phase of the war. However, Netanyahu and military leaders have reiterated their determination to continue until achieving “complete victory,” acknowledging that it may take time.

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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.