IDF tragically kills three hostages

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Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari says Israeli soldiers accidentally killed three hostages in Gaza after forces mistakenly identified them as a threat and shot them during an operation against a Hamas battalion in Gaza City.

Israeli troops operating in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Dec. 11, 2023. Credit: IDF

Shortly after the incident in the Shejaiya district, the suspicion arose that the dead could be hostages, Hagari said.

The bodies were then taken to Israeli territory for closer examination.

It was confirmed that all three hostages were Israeli.

“This is a tragic incident, the army bears full responsibility,” Hagari said.

The army immediately began an investigation of the incident.

Hagari emphasised that Shejaiya was an “active combat zone” where fighting was ongoing in recent days and expressed his condolences to the hostages’ families.

The three Israeli hostages were identified: Yotam Haim, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7. Samer Talalka, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7. The third hostage’s family has been notified and requested that his name will not be broadcasted. IDF and Israel Police representatives have notified all of the families.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Together with the entire people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sorrow and mourn the death of three of our hostages, including Yotam Haim and Samer Fouad Talalka.

This is an unbearable tragedy and all of Israel is grieving their loss this evening. My heart goes out to the bereaved families at this difficult time.

I strengthen our courageous soldiers engaged in the sacred mission of bringing home our hostages while risking their lives in doing so.

Today, on this painful evening, we will dress our wounds, learn the lessons and continue the most important effort of bringing all the hostages home.”

The press briefing by Rear Admiral Hagari:

 I would like to update the public with difficult and painful news about an event that occurred earlier today:

 During the fighting in Shejaiya, the IDF mistakenly identified hostages as a threat. As a result, the soldiers fired at them and they were killed.

After the shooting, during a search and examination, immediate suspicion arose regarding the identity of those killed. Their bodies were quickly transferred for examination in Israel, where they were identified as hostages:
Yotam Haim, may his memory be a blessing, who was kidnapped from Kfar Aza by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7.
Samer Talalka, may his memory be a blessing, who was kidnapped from Nir Am by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7.
And an additional hostage whose name we will not mention at the request of his family.
Representatives of the IDF and the Israel Police notified the families.

This is a sad and painful event for all of us, and the IDF bears responsibility for everything that happened.

We started investigating the incident immediately. This is a tragic incident, which took place in a combat zone where soldiers encountered many terrorists and fought hard battles in the last days, including today.

In some cases, they also encountered suicide-bombing terrorists, without weapons, as well as experiencing attacks in which terrorists tried to mislead IDF soldiers and draw them into a trap. Shortly after the tragic incident, another encounter with terrorists took place near the scene of the incident.

We are in the stage of collecting the facts and ascertaining the details of the incident. Lessons taken from this incident, particularly key emphases for identifying hostages in combat zones were immediately transferred to all IDF soldiers operating throughout the Gaza Strip, in order to do everything to prevent another tragedy like this.

The IDF expresses deep sorrow regarding this disaster and shares in the grief of the families.

May their memories be a blessing.

AAP with J-Wire