Israeli troops unintentionally and tragically killed three hostages on Friday in a battle-torn area of Gaza.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli strike just south of the besieged territory. These incidents highlight the severity of Israel's continuous onslaught. Israel provided more information on what is being called a "grave error."
According to an interview with NPR, host Scott Detrow reiterated the country's response to the killings.
In discussion with NPR correspondent Carrie Khan, who is on the ground in Tel Aviv, told Detrow that "A military spokesman briefed reporters today on what the Army knows of now. Khan the revealed that an official said, 'The three hostages were shirtless and carrying a stick with a white flag on it when they were confronted by soldiers. They were in an area of intense fighting, and they were perceived as a threat.'
Khan went on to say that "...one soldier fired on all three. 'Two were killed instantly, and one ran into a building.'
Khan also revealed that, "there were cries in Hebrew for help from the building, and the soldiers were ordered to cease fire. 'But in unclear circumstances, the third hostage was killed.'
The army official went on to tell Khan that the incident was a clear violation of Israel's rules of engagement and the investigation is still underway.
The Associated Press said Israel's declaration for war was triggered by the October 7 attack led by Hamas in which more than 240 Israelis were abducted. The victim's families have spearheaded a powerful public campaign, urging the Israeli government to take further action to bring their loved ones home. AP identified the abducted men as Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Al-Talalka 25, and Alon Shamriz, 26. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described their deaths as an "unbearable tragedy" and promised the government's commitment to returning all the hostages home safely.
A statement published by the Israeli military on Thursday was noted by the news outlet, Reuters. The military concluded through its findings "that there was no malice in the event, and the soldiers carried out the right action to the best of their understanding of the event at that moment." Army chief General Herzi Halevi had "emphasized the utmost importance of adhering to standard operating procedures." "In a situation where there is no immediate threat and the identification is not a clear enemy, there is a need for a moment of examination before firing, given the opportunity," he said.
It was further elaborated by Reuters that the hostages' cries for help were misinterpreted as a ruse by militants to help throw troops off and into an ambush. Halevi was quoted as saying, "The IDF failed in its mission to rescue the hostages in this event," "The entire chain of command feels responsible for this difficult event, regrets this outcome, and shares in the grief of the families of the three hostages."
The government of Israel is facing mounting pressure to broker a deal that would release the over 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. This comes after the recent release of 110 hostages during the week-long truce in November.
