"Unbearable tragedy": Accidental killing of hostages shocks Israel
The army expressed its "deepest regret about the tragic incident". It was being investigated and "immediate lessons" had been learned and communicated to all Israeli units. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari promised a "transparent investigation".
According to him, the soldiers had "inadvertently identified the three hostages as a threat". The soldiers then shot at the hostages "and they were killed". According to Hagari, the Israeli army suspects that the three hostages either escaped from Hamas or were released by their kidnappers. "We don't know the details yet," said the army spokesman.
According to the army, the bodies of the three hostages were taken to Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces identified those accidentally killed as 26-year-old Alon Lulu Shamris and 28-year-old heavy metal drummer Jotam Haim, who had both been kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Asa, and 25-year-old Bedouin Samer El-Talalka from Kibbutz Nir Am.
As the news of the accidental killing of the three hostages spread, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv that evening. Among them were relatives of the hostages. The protesters demanded a swift new agreement for the release of the remaining hostages. Israeli flags were waved in the crowd and posters with portraits of hostages were held up. "Every day a hostage dies" was written on one of the posters.
"We are gathered here after a devastating evening, and I am dying of fear," said protester Merav Svirsky, whose brother was taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. "We demand that there be an agreement now."
As part of a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas, around one hundred hostages were released over the course of a week at the end of November. In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from the prisons. The agreement was brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the USA.
The news portal "Axios" reported on Friday evening that the director of the Israeli secret service Mossad, David Barnea, will meet with the Qatari head of government Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani in Europe this weekend. The meeting is said to be about a second ceasefire for the release of hostages. Axios did not provide details on the exact location of the meeting or the number of hostages that could be released.
Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, took around 250 people hostage in the Gaza Strip after its major attack on Israel on 7 October. Hamas fighters had infiltrated Israeli towns and committed atrocities against civilians. According to Israeli reports, more than 1130 people were killed.
In response, the Israeli army has since bombed targets in the Gaza Strip and launched a ground offensive. According to the latest figures from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, around 18,800 people have been killed so far, including around 8,000 children.
Israel has also largely cut off fuel and aid supplies to the Palestinian territory. In recent weeks, urgently needed humanitarian aid has only reached the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing. On Friday, the Israeli government cabinet decided to "temporarily" allow trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter the coastal area via the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The US government's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, spoke of a "significant step". A spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the "very good news". It must now be ensured that trucks with aid supplies can reach all parts of the Gaza Strip, not just the south, which is less affected by fighting than the north.
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- The tragedy deeply affected Daniel Hagari, the army spokesman, as he addressed the nation about the incident.
- The unbearable tragedy led to shock waves throughout Egypt and beyond, with many expressing their sympathies for the families of the victims.
- The accidental killing of the hostages has shaken the Men of Kibbutz Kfar Asa to their core, leaving them in a state of grief.
- The tragic accident brought forth accusations from Benajmin Netanyahu, who demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
- The Israeli army's handling of the situation was under scrutiny, with some doubting whether the soldiers' actions were justified given the state of "vibration" and tension in the area.
- Hamas was quick to capitalize on the tragedy, using it as a propaganda tool against Israel and highlighting the "killing" of their countrymen.
- The tragedy in Egypt acted as a catalyst for intense discussions and debates among politicians and human rights activists in the USA, who called for an end to the conflict and the protection of innocent lives.
- From the Gaza Strip, there were heartfelt condolences and acts of solidarity towards the families of the unfortunate hostages, who had unfortunately become victims of an "accidental" incident.
- The Bedouins of the region were left in a state of shock and disbelief, struggling to come to terms with the loss of one of their own, Samer El-Talalka.
- The tragedy served as a painful reminder of the fragile peace between Israel and its neighboring countries, raising questions about the likelihood of a long-term resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Source: www.stern.de
