The accidental killing of hostages in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army leaves Israel in deep mourning. Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks of one “unbearable tragedy”. Now new details have become known.
The Israeli army’s accidental killing of three hostages in the Gaza Strip has caused deep consternation in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident on Friday as “unbearable tragedy” and said: “The entire state of Israel mourns that night”. The men were kidnapped by the radical Islamic group Hamas and shot by Israeli soldiers during fighting in Shujaiya in the north of the Gaza Strip.
The army commented “deepest regret over the tragic incident”. He is being examined “instant lessons” were drawn and passed on to all Israeli units. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari promised one “transparent investigation”.
Many details of the incident are not yet known. But according to Hagari, the three hostages were taken by soldiers “accidentally identified as a threat”. The soldiers then shot and killed the hostages. The Israeli army suspects that the three hostages either escaped from Hamas or were released by their captors.
Killed hostages without shirts and wearing white cloth
The army released new details on Saturday. The killed men emerged from a building several dozen meters away from the troops, an Israeli military official said. They were not wearing shirts and one had a stick with a white cloth in his hand. A soldier felt threatened and opened fire.
Two of the men were killed immediately. A third man fled into the house. A commander ordered the fire to stop, but when the third man stepped outside again, shots were fired again. He was also killed. “I want to make it very clear that this action was against our rules of engagement”said the military representative. A cry for help could also be heard in Hebrew.
Nevertheless, the military representative made it clear that the area was an active combat zone. Troops have already been lured into ambushes there.
Deal between Hamas and Israel
Between fear and relief: This is how the hostages were received on their return
Bodies of hostages brought to Israel
Whether there is a connection with a nearby house on which the letters SOS were attached is currently being investigated. The troops in the Gaza Strip have been reminded of the rules of engagement to avoid such tragic incidents, it said. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
According to the army, the bodies of the three hostages were brought to Israel. Israeli forces identified those mistakenly killed as 26-year-old Alon Lulu Shamris and 28-year-old heavy metal drummer Jotam Haim, both of whom were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Asa, and 25-year-old Bedouin Samer El-Talalka the kibbutz Nir Am.
The Israeli armed forces have now been ordered to exercise increased caution. “We have told our soldiers to exercise extra caution when confronted by people in civilian clothing”Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told US television channel CNN on Saturday. In this context, the spokesman pointed out that many fighters from the Islamist Hamas fought against the Israeli army in civilian clothing. “A sad event like this will not shake our resolve or distract us from our clear goal of destroying Hamas”emphasized Conricus.
Protesters demand new hostage agreement
The tragic incident sparked spontaneous protests in Israel. As news of the accidental killing of the three hostages spread, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on Friday evening. Among them were relatives of the hostages. Organizers accused the government of not doing enough to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstrators demanded a quick new agreement to release the remaining hostages. Israeli flags were waved in the crowd and posters with portraits of hostages were held up. “A hostage dies every day”said one of the posters.
“We are gathered here after a devastating evening and I am dying of fear”said protester Merav Svirsky, whose brother was taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. “We demand that there is an agreement now.”
Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, kidnapped around 250 people as hostages to the Gaza Strip after its major attack on Israel on October 7th, in which more than 1,100 people were killed. As part of a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas, around 100 hostages were released within a week at the end of November. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from prison. The agreement was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the USA.
USA: Death of hostages “heartbreaking” and “tragic”
The news portal “Axios” reported on Friday evening that the director of the Israeli secret service Mossad, David Barnea, would meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani in Europe this weekend. This should be about a second ceasefire to release the hostages. About the exact location of the meeting and the number of hostages that could be released “Axios” not specified.
The US government described the deaths of the three hostages as “heartbreaking” and “tragic”. “Of course, that’s not the outcome anyone wanted”said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby on Friday. He assumes that the Israelis will investigate the incident closely to find out how it happened. However, the case is not suitable for making a general judgment about the Israeli military’s ability to carry out precise actions in the Gaza Strip, Kirby continued.
After discussions with the Israeli leadership, the US government recently expressed the expectation that Israel would take military action “high intensity” in the Gaza Strip “more targeted” military operations will be ignored. However, Washington did not specify a time period for this.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
