Israel has expressed “deep remorse” over the killing of three Gaza hostages who were holding up a white flag, in a “tragic mistake” that sparked protests in Tel Aviv.
The three hostages, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer El-Talalqa, were among those captured by Hamas during raids into Israel on October 7, where 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.
They were shot by the Israeli military during operations in a neighborhood in Gaza City, where Hamas militants operate in civilian attire and use deception tactics.
An initial inquiry into the incident has revealed that the three hostages were holding up a white flag when they were killed, against Israel’s rules of engagement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deaths of the three hostages an “unbearable tragedy,” and the White House labeled it a "tragic mistake."
Hundreds of people gathered at Israel’s Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv to protest the incident and demand the release of the remaining 129 hostages still held in Gaza.
Israel has launched an air and ground assault on Gaza to take out Hamas and secure the release of the hostages, while Hamas claims that the conflict has resulted in the death of thousands of people and extensive destruction in Gaza.
