Israeli Army Mistakenly Kills Three Hostages in Gaza: Investigation Underway

Accident – death – Obituary News : Pressure Mounts on Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government Following Mistaken Killing of Israeli Hostages

The pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been rapidly escalating since the Israeli army admitted on Friday that it mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages during an operation in Shijaiyah, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Gaza City. The victims, later identified as Alon Shamriz, Samer Al-Talalka, and Yotam Haim, were in their twenties and were unarmed, carrying only an improvised white flag at the time they were shot by a group of soldiers. The use of a white flag is internationally recognized as a symbol of surrender and provides protection to both civilians and combatants, making the disregard for this insignia a potential war crime.

These three men were part of a group of more than 240 hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. According to initial reports, the soldiers mistakenly identified them as a threat and opened fire. However, it later emerged that the hostages were shirtless and waving a white flag, indicating that they did not pose a threat. The soldiers could have easily asked them not to approach instead of resorting to lethal force. The incident has raised serious concerns about the Israeli army’s adherence to international humanitarian law and the rules of armed conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have launched an investigation into the case, and Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his heartbreak over the incident. However, he emphasized that it would not alter his goal of defeating Hamas. The Israeli army has justified the shooting by suggesting that the hostages could have potentially posed a threat. However, international law stipulates that a feigned intention to negotiate or surrender using a white flag as cover for collecting information may amount to the war crime of perfidy. In this case, there was no well-founded fear to justify the use of lethal force.

The incident has sparked widespread protests in Israel, led by the families of the remaining hostages in Gaza who fear for their relatives’ safety. They are demanding a new negotiation with Hamas for their release, stating that a military operation alone will not save their lives. Human rights organizations and Israeli veterans groups have also criticized the army’s position, which puts all the blame on the soldiers. The former IDF combatant and member of the veterans organization Breaking the Silence, Ariel Bernstein, revealed that the army’s instructions are to consider anyone in the combat zone as a terrorist.

Omar Shakir, director of the Israel and Palestine section of Human Rights Watch, denounced the Israeli forces’ longstanding practice of shooting first and asking questions later, even when individuals wave white flags. The Financial Times also criticized Netanyahu’s stance, describing him as a “destructive force” eroding support from allies like Germany and the United States.

Israel has attributed sole responsibility for the incident to the soldiers involved, who, if found individually responsible, could be perpetrators of a war crime. These acts, committed by individuals rather than the state, can be investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, the ICC has been criticized for delaying the investigation of violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Francisco Rey, co-director of the Institute of Conflict Studies and Humanitarian Action, called for an acceleration of evidence gathering.

The deaths of these three Israeli hostages add to the long list of casualties in the Gaza conflict, where nearly 20,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, according to Gaza health authorities. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until the end. As the international community awaits further developments, it is clear that both Israelis and Palestinians must be protected in the same way, and Israel’s compliance with international law is under scrutiny..