The Israeli military has acknowledged that it mistakenly killed three Israeli detainees in Gaza, an incident Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described as a tragedy. Meanwhile, relatives of the detainees protested in front of the Ministry of Defense, demanding an immediate prisoner exchange deal.
According to Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagar, the incident occurred in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza on Friday morning when army forces mistakenly identified three Israelis, who had been captured on October 7 during the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, as Palestinian militants after they attempted to escape captivity. The soldiers subsequently opened fire and killed them.
Hagar noted that during a sweep of the area, the forces suspected that the bodies might be Israeli. The bodies were then transferred to the Israeli side for identification. After necessary medical examinations, the detainees were confirmed to be Israelis: Yotam Chaim from Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Samer Talalqa from Kibbutz Nir Am, while the family of the third hostage requested anonymity.
Describing the incident as a “tragic accident,” Hagar stated that the military assumes full responsibility and has immediately launched an investigation into the circumstances of the event.
Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his profound grief over the death of “three of our beloved sons” and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. “The State of Israel mourns this evening… Along with the entire people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sadness and express regret for the loss of three of our dear kidnapped sons… My heart is with the grieving families during these difficult times,” Netanyahu stated.
However, the situation was different outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, where families of the Israeli detainees rallied, holding banners urging priority for the immediate return of these detainees alive in exchange deals, at any cost.
In the meantime, army spokesperson Jonathan Conricus conveyed the immense challenge and difficulty of conducting a military operation to recover “hostages.” He remarked that while the army is committed to recovering them through tactical operations that do not endanger soldiers, recovery through diplomatic means would be preferable. Conricus emphasized that Hamas still possesses combat capabilities and the ability to launch rockets and that dismantling the group would require considerable time and effort.
Also remarking on the challenge of the battle, Conricus highlighted that Israelis would have to pay with blood to achieve their goals and that the process would not be easy.
According to Agence France-Presse, the number of Israeli detainees in Gaza confirmed killed by the Israeli army has risen to 22 out of approximately 250 people. On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack named “Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israeli settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives and capturing hundreds of Israelis.
