Three hostages accidentally killed: Hundreds take to the streets demanding new deal with Hamas

Israel - Three hostages accidentally killed: Hundreds take to the streets demanding new deal with Hamas

Israeli soldiers have accidentally killed three hostages during fighting in the Gaza Strip. The armed forces mistakenly identified them as a threat during an operation in the Hamas stronghold of Shejaiya in the north of the sealed-off coastal strip and shot at them, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on Friday evening. The tragic incident triggered spontaneous protests by hundreds of people in Israel. They accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of not doing enough to free hostages.

Israel's military: bear the responsibility

How the serious incident on Friday morning came about is being investigated, explained Hagari. However, after an initial reconstruction of the events, the military assumes that the three men either escaped from their kidnappers or were deliberately left behind. The soldiers had been involved in heavy fighting there over the past few days. Terrorists had repeatedly tried to lure them into an ambush. Suicide bombers who were not carrying weapons had also emerged.

The IDF began reviewing the incident immediately. The IDF emphasizes that this is an active combat zone in which ongoing fighting over the last few days has occurred. Immediate lessons from the event have been learned, which have been passed on to all IDF troops in the field.…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 15, 2023

"This is a sad and painful incident for all of us, and the army bears responsibility for everything that has happened," Hagari continued. The three victims were abducted in the unprecedented massacre by Hamas terrorists and other groups in Israel on October 7, along with around 240 other people in the Gaza Strip. More than 1200 people were killed in the terrorist attack. Israel responded with massive air strikes and began a ground offensive at the end of October. According to the latest information from Hamas, around 18,700 people have been killed in attacks in the Gaza Strip to date.

Netanyahu: Learning lessons and moving on

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the death of the three hostages at the hands of his own countrymen as an "unbearable tragedy". "The entire state of Israel is mourning tonight. My heart is with the grieving families in their difficult time of grief," Netanyahu wrote on social media on Friday evening. "Even on this difficult evening, we will tend to our wounds, learn the lessons and continue with the utmost effort to bring all our hostages home safely," Netanyahu said.

Protesters demand new hostage deal

While the general Israeli public continues to support the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, there are increasing doubts among family members of the hostages. At the spontaneous protests in Tel Aviv, it was said that a new hostage deal, such as the one struck at the end of November, would prevent incidents such as the death of three hostages at the hands of Israeli soldiers. "Their time is running out! Bring them home now," people shouted.

According to Israeli estimates, 112 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is still not releasing the bodies of 20 kidnapped people, Netanyahu's office announced on Friday. It was not stated how it is known which abductees are dead.

US government calls death of hostages tragic

Israel's war aims are the destruction of Hamas and the return of the remaining hostages. But while Israel's military was able to retrieve the bodies of several hostages from the Gaza Strip, it has so far only been able to rescue one living hostage, a soldier, according to the Wall Street Journal. The US government described the death of three hostages at the hands of soldiers as "heartbreaking" and "tragic".

"Obviously, this is not an outcome that anyone would have wanted," said National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby. However, the case is not suitable for making a general judgment on whether the Israeli military is capable of taking precise action in the Gaza Strip, Kirby continued.

Following talks with the Israeli leadership, the US government had recently expressed the expectation that Israel would switch from a "high-intensity" military approach to "more targeted" military operations. However, Washington did not specify a timeframe for this.

Another journalist killed in fighting

According to Al-Jazeera, a cameraman from the Arab television station was also killed in an Israeli drone attack in Chan Junis in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to the European news agency association EANA, a cameraman from the Turkish news agency Anadolu Bei was also killed in air strikes by the Israeli military. According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 63 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the Gaza war.

What will be important on Saturday

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin begins a multi-day trip to the Middle East this weekend. The stops will be Israel, Qatar and Bahrain, the Pentagon announced on Friday. In Israel, he also wants to talk to the military leadership about a possible end to intensive ground operations and air strikes. In Qatar, Austin wants to meet with US forces stationed there, among others. Austin will also visit the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is currently underway in the eastern Mediterranean. In Bahrain, the Minister intends to visit the US Naval Forces Central Command.

The meeting will focus on efforts to convene multilateral coalitions to respond to "aggression at sea" that threatens shipping and the global economy. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Israel with drones and missiles, among other things. They are also threatening to prevent ships of any nationality from passing through the Red Sea on their way to Israel in future. The USA is considering increased cooperation with partners in the region and intends to announce details in the coming days.