Three Hostages Held By Hamas Mistakenly Killed By IDF

TOPSHOT - Israeli soldiers walk in a single file on a path during an operation in the West Bank town of Hebron on June 17, 2014 as Israeli forces broadened the search for three teenagers believed kidnapped by militants and imposed a tight closure of the town. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's help in securing the release of three kidnapped teenagers, as the army launched a massive crackdown on Islamist movement Hamas. AFP PHOTO/ HAZEM BADER (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP) (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images) — Israeli soldiers walk in a single file on a path during an operation in the West Bank town of Hebron on June 17, 2014 as Israeli forces broadened the search for three teenagers believed kidnapped by militants and imposed a tight closure of the town. (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN’s Sophia Flores
5:11 PM – Friday, December 15, 2023

The Israeli military has announced that three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were mistakenly killed due to friendly fire.

During combat in Shejaiya, the IDF mistakenly identified 3 Israeli hostages as a threat and as a result, fired toward them and the hostages were killed. 1/1

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

The incident occurred during combat operations in Shejaiya, a densely populated neighborhood in Gaza where Israeli troops unintentionally perceived the three hostages as a threat.

Officials have identified the dead as Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shamriz.

It is believed that all three of the hostages were fled or were abandoned by the terrorists who held them captive.

The IDF acknowledged that its troops fired at the individuals, resulting in their tragic demise.

After the gunfire, Israeli troops surveyed the area and soon a “suspicion arose regarding the identity of the dead.”

Their bodies were taken to an Israeli territory, where it was discovered that it was the three Israeli abductees who were killed.

Haim and Shamriz were taken hostage on October 7^th by Hamas in Kfar Aza, while Talalka was taken from Nir Am.

The IDF released a statement expressing sorrow for the incident.

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

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