Israeli Military Admits Mistakenly Killing 3 Hostages in Gaza: Netanyahu Expresses Condolences

Rosseno Aji, CNBC Indonesia

Saturday, 16/12/2023 12:45 WIB

Photo: Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim, and Samer Talalka as three hostages who were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. (REUTERS).

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Israeli military admitted that it had mistakenly killed 3 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. An Israeli military spokesman stated that the incident involving the killing of the three Israeli hostages was being reviewed.

The Israeli military stated that the hostages, who were Israeli citizens, were killed in fighting with militants in Gaza. They expressed condolences to the family and promised there would be full transparency in the investigation into this incident.

Quoted from Reuters on Saturday (16/12/2023), the Israeli military stated that during the fierce fighting in Gaza they “identified three Israeli hostages as a threat”. As a result, soldiers shot at them and they were killed.

The hostages who died were Yotam Haim who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar, and Samer Talalka, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am and Alon Shamriz who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. All of them were kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7 attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences for the deaths of the three Israeli hostages. “Along with all the people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sadness and mourn the death of our three beloved sons who were kidnapped,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement quoted by Reuters, Saturday (16/12/2023).

“My heart goes out to the bereaved families in their difficult time.”

In recent days Israel has been involved in heavy fighting with Hamas militants, who often wear casual civilian clothes. A number of Israeli soldiers were reported killed in this battle.

During a ceasefire in late November, Hamas released more than 100 women, children and foreigners held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 240 women and teenagers. More than 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Some of them have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

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