The Israeli military shot the hostages: they considered them a threat

The Israeli military said its troops shot and killed three hostages held by Hamas after misidentifying the captives as a threat during fighting in a embattled area of ​​Gaza City.

According to The Guardian, Friday’s announcement came amid intense fighting in the embattled area, which has led to an influx of dead and wounded into hospitals in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah.

Separately, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network said one of its journalists was killed and another wounded in a drone strike while reporting in Khan Younis.

The army identified the three slain hostages as Yotam Haim and Alon Shamriz, who were captured at Kibbutz Kfar Azah during the October 7 Hamas attack, and Samer El-Talalqa, captured at Kibbutz Nir Am.

The hostages were killed in the Gaza city area of ​​Shejaya, where troops have fought fierce battles with Hamas militants in recent days.

The exact circumstances of their deaths were not immediately established. In a statement released late Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: “During the battle in Shejaiya, the IDF mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. As a result, the soldiers opened fire on them and they were killed.”

Army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagary said the three are believed to have either escaped their captors or been abandoned. “Perhaps in the last few days or within the past day – we still don’t know all the details – they reached this area,” he said. He said the army expressed “deep sorrow” and was investigating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “Together with all the people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sorrow and mourn the death of our three dear sons who were kidnapped. My heart goes out to the grieving families during their difficult time.”

Al Jazeera initially reported that video journalist Samer Abu Dhaka and its chief correspondent in Gaza, Wael al-Dahduh, were wounded by shrapnel while reporting from a school damaged by an earlier airstrike.

In a subsequent statement condemning the Israeli military, Al Jazeera attributed the injuries to a drone strike: “After being wounded, Samer was left to bleed to death for more than five hours as Israeli forces prevented ambulances and rescue workers from reaching him, denying him much-needed emergency care.”

Dahduh, who lost several members of his family in Israeli bombing last month, was wounded in the arm and transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Earlier on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces discovered the bodies of three other hostages in Gaza: Elya Toledano, 28, and two soldiers, Nick Beiser and Ron Sherman, both 19.

The military said their identities were established through a process conducted by medical professionals, military rabbis and forensic experts. The report did not provide further details about the circumstances of their deaths or where in Gaza they were found.

About 240 people were taken hostage when Hamas militants broke through the separation barrier into Israel on October 7 and killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, The Guardian recalls. The ensuing Israeli offensive in Gaza killed more than 18,700 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian officials.

The Israeli government has repeatedly stated that bringing home all hostages is one of its main military goals. But in the seven weeks since ground troops invaded northern Gaza, troops have not rescued a single hostage, although they freed one early in the conflict and found the bodies of several more captives.

Families of the hostages said this week they were “shocked” by the director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency that he was refusing to renegotiate their release and demanded an explanation from authorities.

During a week-long truce in late November, Hamas released more than 100 women, children and foreigners it was holding in Gaza in exchange for the release of 240 women and teenagers jailed by Israel, many of whom were not charged.

More than 130 hostages taken in Gaza are still being held, according to the Israeli military. Some of them were declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

The Palestinian Prisoners Association said Israel has detained more than 4,400 Palestinians since October 7 and is holding about half without charge.

Elya Toledano, who was 28 years old in captivity, was among about 240 people taken hostage during Hamas attacks in southern Israel. A resident of Tel Aviv, he was at the Nova music festival with his friend and fellow French-Israeli Mia Shem, who was released under a ceasefire agreement in late November.

Two friends tried to escape in a car at the start of the attack on the Nova music festival but their tires were shot out. Mia Shem wrote to other friends: “They are shooting at us, come help us.”

Shem, 21, who was training to be a tattoo artist, was later featured in the first Hamas video of a hostage speaking from captivity. She was released on November 30.