Israeli Military: "3 Hostages Mistakenly Killed During Gaza Strip Battle"

Three Hostages Killed in Friendly Fire
Hamas Detains and Shoots Own Nationals

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly killed three Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip due to friendly fire.

Daniel Hagari, the IDF chief spokesperson, stated in a briefing on the afternoon of the 15th (local time) that during clashes in northern Gaza, Israeli soldiers mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as threats and opened fire, resulting in their deaths.

Hagari said, "This area has been one where the military has encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers, over the past few days." The Israeli Prime Minister's Office also issued a statement calling it an "unbearable tragedy" and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

The friendly fire incident occurred in Shejaiya, a densely populated area in Gaza City in northern Gaza, according to reports by The New York Times and others. The IDF considers Shejaiya one of the strongholds of the Palestinian armed faction Hamas. The IDF explained that the friendly fire happened during search and checkpoint operations and that the bodies were transferred to Israel for identification.

Hagari stated that it is presumed the hostages either escaped from their captors or were abandoned amid ongoing combat. He added that the IDF immediately launched an investigation into the incident. When asked whether the deceased hostages had raised their hands or shouted in Hebrew, Hagari said, "We are reviewing the specifics."

The deceased hostages were identified as Yotam Haim (28), Alon Shamriz (26), and Samer Talalka (25), men in their twenties who were abducted from an Israeli collective farm (kibbutz) during Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7. According to the Israeli nonprofit organization Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Talalka was kidnapped while working at a poultry farm in Nir Am Kibbutz and was injured by gunfire from terrorists during the abduction.