Slain Israeli hostages were holding up white flag, stripped to the waist: IDF
By
Social Links forOlivia Land
Published Dec. 16, 2023
Updated Dec. 16, 2023, 10:58 a.m. ET
Israeli military says it mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages in Gaza
0 of 2 minutes, 36 secondsVolume 0%
00:08
02:36
The three Israeli hostages who
escaped Hamas only to be mistakenly killed by the IDF were stripped to the waist and waving a white flag at the time, according to a new report.
Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka, and Alon Shamriz were all shirtless when an Israel Defense Forces soldier stationed in a building in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City noticed them exiting a nearby structure,
the Times of Israel reported, citing the IDF’s initial probe.
One of the men – all of whom were kidnapped by Hamas from southern Israel on Oct. 7 – was also holding a makeshift white flag, a senior officer in the Southern Command told the outlet.
The IDF soldier, however, believed the men were trying to lure him into a trap, and opened fire while shouting “terrorists!” to the other forces, the report found.
Two of the hostages were killed immediately, while the third was wounded and fled back into the building they came out of, the Times of Israel explained.
00:1203:58
The commander of the battalion then went outside the building the soldiers shot from, and called for the troops to hold their fire.
8
Haim, 28, was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’ terror attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.AP
8
Samer Talalka, who was in his early 20s, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Am, according to reports.Family photo
8
Alon Shamriz has been identified as the third Israeli victim accidentally killed by IDF strikes inside Gaza.Avi Lulu/Facebook
Around that time, troops in the area could hear someone shouting for “help” in Hebrew, the report claimed.
The third hostage then emerged again from the building, prompting a soldier to open fire and kill him.
It was only after the third man had been killed that the battalion commander noticed his appearance was unusual, according to the Times of Israel.
8
The IDF announced the killings on Friday.IDF /Telegram
8
The IDF soldier, however, believed the men were trying to lure him into a trap, and opened fire while shouting “terrorists!” to the other forces, the report found.Jim Hollander/UPI/Shutterstock
8
A protester with red paint on his hand marches through the streets after demonstrating outside the Israel Defense Forces headquarters.Getty Images
All three bodies were taken to Israel for identification.
The soldier who opened fire immediately after seeing the three men was acting against protocols — as was the second soldier who killed the third hostage, the senior officer who spoke to the Times of Israel said.
But the scenario of hostages walking around a battle area was not taken into account by the IDF, the Times of Israel noted.
Israel War Update
Get the most important developments in the region, globally and locally.
Enter your email address
By clicking above you agree to the
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.
IDF troops have killed at least 38 terrorists in Shejaiya over the past few days and have not identified any Gazan civilians, the officer told the outlet.
The only individuals seen in civilian clothing have been Hamas operatives — who then collect abandoned weapons, and use them to fire at IDF soldiers before fleeing, the report said.
The IDF had also run across several unarmed civilians who were actually Hamas suicide bombers, the Times of Israel added.
On Wednesday, troops in Shejaiya found a building with spray paint on the wall that read “SOS” in English alongside a Hebrew message that said “Help, three hostages,” the senior officer said.
The soldiers initially thought the building was booby-trapped, but the military is now questioning whether the discovery was connected to Friday’s mistaken shooting.
Immediately after the three hostages were killed, the IDF relayed new protocols for troops about the possibility of additional hostages who fled captivity.
The results of the initial investigation into the shooting have been presenting to the families of Haim, Talalka, and Shamriz, the Times of Israel said.
Haim, 28, and Shamriz, 26, were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during Hamas’ terror attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Talalka, who was in his early 20s, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Am.
The content of the IDF’s initial report emerged as news broke that Mossad chief David Barnea met with the Qatari PM to discuss a potential new hostage deal, according to the Walla news outlet.
8
Protesters march through the streets near a clock displaying 69 days in captivity.Getty Images
The talks, however, are “just a beginning” of a “long, difficult and complicated” process, a source told the Walla site.
Qatar played a major role in the first temporary ceasefire deal, which saw the release of 105 civilian hostages over a week’s time.
The Israeli war cabinet is also set to meet later Saturday evening, the Times of Israel said, citing a Hebrew media report.
8
IDF troops are still fighting in the Gaza Strip.IDF/GPO/SIPA/Shutterstock
Also on Saturday,
the New York Times revealed that Israel was aware of Hamas’ financial capacity in 2018 – but did nothing to stem the flow of cash to the terror group.
Documents found on the computer of a senior Hamas official revealed a private equity fund worth hundreds of millions of dollars – with some sources saying up to $500 million, the outlet reported.
131
What do you think?
Post a comment.
“Everyone is talking about failures of intelligence on Oct. 7, but no one is talking about the failure to stop the money,” Udi Levy, a former chief of Mossad’s economic warfare division, told the New York Times.
Levy insisted that he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Hamas’ finances in 2015, but was dismissed.
“I can tell you for sure that I talked to him about this. But he didn’t care that much about it,” he claimed.
FILED UNDER
READ NEXTHouse Republicans could face one seat majority in 2024
Sponsored
0C3B8
SPONSORED STORIES
The Woman in the Video Is My DaughterIGAA in The Free Press
Crystalize Your Pet in a Stunning, Custom 3D Crystal KeepsakeArtPix 3D
Falling in Love with These Magical 3D Mugs in Just One Second.dotmalls.com
A president’s grief: Biden on finding solace
CNN
Breaking China's Rare Earth Monopoly - Investor Alert: Neotech MetalsFinancial Star News
BBC has seen evidence of sexual violence and mutilation of women during the 7 October attacks.IGAA I The BBC
The Most Realistic PC Game of 2023I've been playing this game for 2 years now. It's Amazing!”Plarium
01:30
Sexual Violence is Not ResistanceIGAA I Don't Look Away
The Truth About Keeping Muscle Mass After Age 50Alpha Health Findings
Turn Your Photos into Stunning 3D Crystal Gifts for Christmas!ArtPix 3D
Conversation131 Comments
1.7K Viewing
Share your stance. Please adhere to our
guidelines.
2 People typing
View 9 new comments
Sort by
Best
Kim McQuaid
1 hour ago
Unfortunately friendly fire deaths happen in every battle. That's not to excuse the killing of 3 people it's just fact. The 2 soldiers will face charges but I think facing charges from the law will be easier than living with fact that they killed 3 escaped hostages. My heart goes out to the friends...
See more
Reply
43
Share
martytime
32 minutes ago
Our own intelligence agencies have estimated that the US and its allies was responsible for nearly 850K civilian deaths in both Iraq and Afghanistan. You don't hear much about that. Nor how many died at our hands in Nagasaki and Hiroshima or Dresden??
Reply
13
Share
1 reply
JFK
58 minutes ago
If Hamas hadn’t taken hostages this chain of unfortunate events wouldn’t have happened
Reply
36
Share
3 replies
Show 1 more reply
Terry Nongiven
1 hour ago
While I commend the IDF for not covering this up or even stalling (very quick admission of guilt) on this report, there REALLY needs to be repercussions for the individuals that fired on shirtless white flag wielding people,m EVEN if they were suspected terrorists. An order to halt in place or lie ...
See more
Reply
54
Share
WestSide
1 hour ago
They are in the Gaza Strip, not Iowa, where an ambush can be very sophisticated. You make it sound so easy to determine the situation.
Reply
46
Share
5 replies
comengedit
36 minutes ago
There is nothing to be gained in further punishing the soldiers responsible for this. Nothing.
Not every situation requires punishment. The soldiers responsible will live the rest of their lives in great pain for having killed their brothers-in-arms. That is punishment enough.
The most-meaningful co...
See more
Reply
4
Share
MD
Michael Davis
4 minutes ago
Excellent analysis keyboard warrior.
Reply
Share
Show 4 more replies
comengedit
43 minutes ago
What more can be said but that this is a horrible and tragic consequence of the fog of war.
It is so sad for the hostages who held on to hope for two months only to be have their young lives ended, unintentionally, at the hands of their brothers-in-arms. It is so sad for the families and friends of...
See more