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In a regrettable incident on Friday, Israeli soldiers mistakenly shot and killed three hostages in Gaza who had reportedly used leftover food to create signs pleading for help. The victims—Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Talalka, 22, and Alon Shamriz, 26—had been staying in a building adjacent to the location where they were fatally shot, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Authorities acknowledged that the killing of individuals holding a white flag represented a violation of the "rules of engagement." The IDF has come under increased scrutiny, facing mounting pressure to secure a deal for the release of more hostages, approximately 120 of whom are believed to remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
These hostages were initially seized by militants during the Hamas attacks on October 7, resulting in around 1,200 casualties in southern Israel. In response, Israel initiated a large-scale retaliatory operation aimed at dismantling Hamas, with more than 18,000 casualties reported in Gaza since, according to local health authorities. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.
The tragic incident involving Haim, Talalka, and Shamriz occurred in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday, where Israeli troops encountered formidable resistance. According to an anonymous Israeli military official, the men emerged shirtless from a building, with one carrying a stick adorned with a white cloth. Feeling threatened, a soldier declared them "terrorists" and opened fire, resulting in the immediate deaths of two hostages. The third, wounded, returned to the building.
Upon hearing a cry for help in Hebrew, the battalion commander ordered a ceasefire. However, the wounded hostage re-emerged and was subsequently shot and killed. In a subsequent search of the building on Sunday, IDF reported discovering messages reading "SOS" and "Help, 3 hostages" written on fabric. Officials believe the hostages had been in the location for an extended period, raising questions about whether they had been abandoned by their captors or managed to escape.
