Three hostages were “accidentally” killed by the Israeli army in Gaza after waving a white flag and speaking Hebrew. When Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to maintain “military pressure” on the Gaza Strip, the head of the Israeli army has refocused his soldiers.
“This is not the IDF.” Following the deaths of three hostages who were “accidentally” killed by Israeli soldiers, families are increasing pressure on the government and demanding the return of their relatives. The Israeli army released a video showing Herzi Halevi, its chief of staff, redirecting his troops.
“Three people came out. They knew they were taking risks by approaching our troops. They took off their tops to show us that they had no explosives and held up a white shirt on a flagpole to identify themselves,” he explained.
And added: “They called for help, they spoke Hebrew. And if it were two Gazans with a white flag who came to surrender, would they be shot at? Certainly not. This is not the IDF. We don't shoot at you because the IDF doesn't shoot at a person who raises their hand. This is strength, not weakness.”
An ongoing investigation
On Saturday, December 16, the day after the hostages died, Herzi Halevi had already spoken and accepted “responsibility for what happened.”
The victims, Yotam Haïm, 28, Samer al-Talalqa, 25, and Alon Lulu Shamriz, 26, were killed during operations in a Gaza City neighborhood, according to the IDF, which called for an investigation into the circumstances of their deaths. This Sunday, December 17, the army released photos it said it had taken at the site of the tragedy in the Gaza Strip. We see messages written in Hebrew on pieces of white cloth that read: “SOS,” “Help,” or “3 hostages.”
All three were among around 250 people taken hostage in Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7. Since the announcement of this mistake, and in the face of Israeli anger, the army has continued to communicate, claiming it has “learned lessons” but citing a “violation of the rules of engagement.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “heartbroken” but wanted to “maintain military pressure,” while Hamas made a ceasefire a prerequisite for any agreement.