Three Israeli hostages were mistakenly killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, as they held up a white flag, according to a military official’s statement on Saturday.
The incident occurred in an area of intense combat in Shijaiyah, Gaza City, where Hamas militants operate in civilian attire and employ deception tactics, the official explained. The hostages, identified as Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Al-Talalka, 25, and Alon Shamriz, 26, were fired upon against Israel’s rules of engagement.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the army’s chief spokesman, initially stated that the soldiers had mistakenly identified the three Israelis as a threat and opened fire, believing they had either fled their captors or been abandoned.
The bodies of the three young men, who had been abducted from Israeli communities near the Gaza border, were taken to the Hatzvi Centre at the Shura Camp for identification.
News of the tragic error sparked public outrage, with hundreds of protesters marching to the Israeli war cabinet’s meeting spot. Demonstrators blocked Tel Aviv’s main highway in a spontaneous demonstration, demanding the return of other hostages.
Later, the protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, where the three-pronged Israeli war cabinet, consisting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and opposition leader Benny Gantz, convened to discuss the ongoing offensive operation in Gaza.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by IDF in distinguishing combatants from civilians in the complex and high-stakes conflict zone. As investigations into the tragic mistake continue, questions regarding the rules of engagement and the circumstances leading to the misidentification of the hostages remain at the forefront.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
