Three Israeli Hostages Killed Error By IDF

The Israeli Defense Forces mistakenly killed three of its own people who were taken by Hamas since Oct. 7. According to the military body, it fired towards the hostages under the mistaken belief that they were hostiles.

Netanyahu Addresses Israel After 3 Hostages Accidentally Killed In ‘Terrible Tragedy’: ‘It Struck Me Hard’ https://t.co/nd5OHHDod2 pic.twitter.com/sjjEZuhvgd

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The three hostages have been identified as Alon Shamriz, Samer Talalka and Yotam Haim. According to an investigation, the three had come out of a building in northern Gaza shirtless and waving a white flag. While they shouted to the soldiers in Hebrew, Israeli soldiers had thought that it was one of Hamas’ tricks to lure them into a trap.

Addressing the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “When I was updated about the terrible tragedy – it struck me hard. Alon, Samar and Yotam survived hell for 72 days, they were almost one step from freedom, they had touched redemption and then disaster struck. It broke my heart. It broke the entire country’s heart.”

Netanyahu also had a word of support for the soldiers whose efforts he commended despite their error.

“They are giving their lives to achieve a crushing victory over our enemies and return our hostages. We are doing – and will do – everything to safeguard the lives of our soldiers, each and every one of them, and we will use all means so that they are not hurt,” he stated.

While the incident gave anti-Israel advocates a basis to press harder in its campaign against the nation, Israel is not changing its military position as Netanyahu believes that military pressure is the only way the nation can get Hamas to return the rest of its hostages.

For the Israeli official, military pressure was what led to the seven days ceasefire that led to the release of about 110 hostages late last month.

“And only continued military pressure will lead to the release of all of our hostages. My directive to the negotiating team is based on this pressure, without which we would have nothing,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the IDF has learned from its mistakes. In a statement regarding the incident, the IDF expressed “deep remorse,” adding that it has learned “immediate lessons” and spread it within all its troops.

“The IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences. Our national mission is to locate the missing and return all the hostages home,” the statement read.