The Israeli army said that during the investigation at the scene, they suspected the identity of the dead man. The bodies were transported to Israel for examination, where it was revealed that three Israelis were shot dead by soldiers after they thought they were terrorists.
Among them was Yotam Hagim, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. The other is Samer Fouad Al-Talalqa, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am, but lives in the Bedouin village of Hura. The name of the third has not yet been revealed at the request of the family.
The IDF expresses its deep regret over the incident, shares the grief of the families of the victims, and continues to make every effort to return the additional abductees to their homeland.
– said the military spokesman.
He added that according to their assumption, the three Israeli hostages either took advantage of the chaos that resulted from the exchange of fire to escape from the hands of the terrorists, or the kidnappers left them alone a few days ago.
Something tragically went wrong, and it is being thoroughly investigated and we will be publishing every moment of the incident
Spokesman Daniel Hagari said.
Hundreds protested in Tel Aviv after the announcement
Local media reported that hundreds of people took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Friday night to protest the killing of the three Israeli hostages.
The crowd closed one of the main streets in the center of the coastal city. The people demanded that the government take steps to release the hostages immediately. The participants in the movement walked towards the Israeli army headquarters.
According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper’s news portal, Ynet reported that they poured red paint on the street and shouted:
We’re running out of time! Bring them home now!
The crowd also criticized the government for not doing enough to release the hostages kidnapped by Hamas. According to them, a new hostage agreement, such as the one reached at the end of November, could have prevented incidents like the one that occurred on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the killing of the three hostages as an “unbearable tragedy.”
The entire State of Israel is in mourning tonight. My heart goes out to the bereaved families during this difficult time of bereavement
he wrote on social media on Friday evening.
Our reports on the conflict between Israel and Hamas are available by clicking here.
(Cover photo: Protesters in Tel Aviv on December 15, 2023. Photo: Alexei J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Comprehensive analyses, world-changing questions, and visions for the future in one volume.
Follow Index on Facebook too!
