Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : JERUSALEM — In a significant admission by Israeli military officials, it has been confirmed that three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless at the time of their deaths. This revelation is likely to intensify pressure on the Israeli government to resume negotiations with Hamas over the release of more captives. Israel currently holds 129 Palestinian prisoners and insists that their release can only be secured through military pressure.
Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, reiterated on Saturday that there will be no further release of hostages until Israel accepts Hamas’ conditions for an exchange and the war comes to an end. He stated that he had no knowledge of any potential meeting between Israeli and Qatari officials regarding a possible exchange.
The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the incident, as the soldiers’ behavior was deemed to be against the rules of engagement. It is believed that the hostages were either abandoned by their captors or had managed to escape. The military has a responsibility to ensure the safe return of all hostages, said Herzi Halevi, chief of the military’s general staff.
The hostages, all in their 20s, were killed during a raid by Hamas into Israel on October 7. The incident occurred in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah, where Israeli troops are engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas militants. The hostages’ deaths have sparked outrage in Israel, with many calling for a renewed focus on securing their safe return.
The Israeli military has provided its account of the incident, stating that the three hostages emerged from a building near Israeli soldiers’ positions. They waved a white flag and were shirtless, indicating that they posed no threat. Two were killed immediately, and the third ran back into the building, screaming for help in Hebrew. Despite an order to cease fire, the third man was shot and killed.
The conduct of Israeli troops during the conflict has come under scrutiny, with Palestinians reporting instances of Israeli soldiers opening fire on civilians as they attempted to flee to safety. Hamas has also claimed that other hostages have been killed by Israeli fire or airstrikes, although evidence has not been presented.
The deaths of the three hostages highlight the dangers faced by civilians in areas of house-to-house combat, such as Shijaiyah. The military has stated that Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops, complicating efforts to ensure the safe return of hostages.
The offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 18,700 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. The war has also led to the displacement of 85% of Gaza’s population, with many seeking shelter in overcrowded facilities in the south of the territory.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed concern over the civilian casualties and has called for a reduction in violence. However, it continues to provide support to Israel through weapons shipments and diplomatic backing. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is set to travel to Israel to discuss a timetable for winding down the combat phase of the war.