Last Updated: December 17, 2023, 06:32 IST
Relatives and supporters rally for the discharge of hostages kidnapped on the lethal October 7 assault by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, amid the continuing battle between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec 16. (Reuters)
An Israeli army official mentioned the hostages probably had been deserted by their captors or had escaped
Three Israeli hostages who have been mistakenly killed by Israeli troops within the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and have been shirtless once they have been shot, army officers mentioned Saturday. In a nationwide handle, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that the killings “broke the entire nation’s heart,” however he indicated no change in Israel’s army marketing campaign.
“We are more determined than ever to continue to the end – until we eliminate Hamas, return all of our hostages, and ensure that, with G-d’s help, there will not be any element that educates for terrorism, finances terrorism and dispatches terrorism,” he mentioned. (*3*) he added.
Anger over mistaken killings
Anger over the mistaken killings is prone to enhance strain on the Israeli authorities to resume Qatar-mediated negotiations with Hamas over swapping extra of the remaining captives, which Israel says quantity 129, for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
An Israeli army official, who spoke with The Associated Press on situation of anonymity, mentioned the hostages probably had been deserted by their captors or had escaped. The troopers’ habits was “against our rules of engagement,” the official mentioned, and was being investigated on the highest degree.
‘Shooting under pressure’
The hostages did every little thing they might to sign they weren’t a menace, “but this shooting was done during fighting and under pressure,” Herzi Halevi, chief of the army’s basic workers, mentioned in an announcement. “There may be additional incidents in which hostages will escape or will be abandoned during the fighting. We have the obligation and the responsibility to get them out alive,” Halevi added.
The hostages, all of their 20s, have been killed Friday within the Gaza City space of Shijaiyah, the place troops are engaged in fierce preventing with Hamas. They had been amongst greater than 240 folks taken hostage throughout an unprecedented raid by Hamas into Israel on Oct. 7 by which round 1,200 folks have been killed.
‘Shirtless with white flag’
The Israeli army official mentioned the three hostages had emerged from a constructing near Israeli troopers’ positions. They waved a white flag and have been shirtless, probably attempting to sign they posed no menace. Two have been killed instantly, and the third ran again into the constructing screaming for assist in Hebrew.
The commander issued an order to stop fireplace, however one other burst of gunfire killed the third man, the official mentioned. The mass circulation each day Yediot Ahronot mentioned that based on an investigation into the incident, troopers adopted the third man and shouted at him to return out, and no less than one soldier shot him when he emerged from a staircase.
‘SOS and Help’
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz mentioned the troopers who adopted the third hostage believed he was a Hamas member. Local media reported that troopers earlier noticed a close-by constructing marked “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages” however feared it may be a lure.
The killings emphasised the hazards hostages face in areas of house-to-house fight like Shijaiyah, the place 9 troopers have been killed this week in a single of the warfare’s deadliest days for Israeli floor forces. But the Israeli army in its defence has mentioned Hamas has booby-trapped buildings and ambushed troops from a tunnel community it constructed underneath Gaza City.
Hamas launched over 100 hostages for Palestinian prisoners throughout a short cease-fire in November. Nearly all freed on each side have been girls and youngsters. Talks on additional swaps broke down. Hamas seeks the return of all Palestinian prisoners.
(With company inputs)
