IDF mistakenly kills three hostages in Gaza

IDF troops killed three hostages taken by Hamas after mistaking them for terrorists during operational activity in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shejaia, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Friday evening.

The three victims include Yotam Haim and Alon Shamriz, who were abducted from Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka, who was abducted from Nir Am, all of whom were kidnapped on October 7.

During fighting in Shejaiya, Gaza, an IDF force mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. They opened fired and killed them.The bodies were returned to Israel and identified as:️ Yotam Haim, abducted from Kfar Gaza️ Samar Fouad Talalka, abducted from Nir Am… pic.twitter.com/Cx6KbGw7RH

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 15, 2023

Identifying the bodies

The IDF said that following the incident, acting on a suspicion of the identities of the deceased, their bodies were brought back to Israel for examination where it was determined they had, indeed, been among the hostages.

The IDF added that an investigation was immediately opened into the circumstances of the event. So far, the details regarding what happened have not yet been discussed with the public.

Minister Benny Gantz offered condolences to the grieving families, writing on Friday night that he was "heartbroken upon hearing the news.

"Our troops are carrying out deeply complicated operations, the most important this country has known," he wrote on X. "The pain that follows this war, is now heavier than ever."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also expressed its sorrow at the loss of the three hostages killed.

According to the forum, Talalka, 25, had been the eldest of 10 children and was reportedly wounded by Hamas gunfire when he was initially kidnapped in early October.

The forum added that Haim, a life-long drummer, had been in his home during Hamas's attack on southern Israel when the terrorists set it on fire. After he opened the window in order to breathe and escape the smoke, he was abducted.

Netanyahu grieves the hostages

"Together with all of Israel, I mourn and deeply lament the loss of three dear sons who were abducted, among them Yotam Haim and Samar Fuad al-Talalka," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday evening. "This is an unbearable tragedy. The entire State of Israel is grieving tonight. My heart is with the anguished families in this difficult time."

The prime minister went on to reiterate that he stands by the soldiers of the IDF as they risk their lives during their work to rescue the hostages in Gaza.

"Even on this difficult evening, we will bandage our wounds, draw lessons, and continue our supreme effort to bring all our captives home safely," he added

Mourning the loss

Around 300 people turned out to mourn Al-Talalka, 25, at his funeral on Saturday in his hometown of Hura, in southern Israel.

"We had so many hopes, expectations, that he would come back to us," his cousin, Alaa Al-Talalka told Israel's public broadcaster Kan from his Bedouin community's mourning tent.

"We're not going to start pointing fingers, who is guilty and who is not. It is just not the time," Al-Talalka said. "The families are thinking only of how to bring the hostages back alive. This is the time to ask for the war to end," he said.

This is a developing story.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.