New Delhi: In a tragic incident, three hostages lost their lives when the Israeli army, under the impression of a perceived threat, mistakenly shot them.
“During combat in Shejaiya (a battleground neighbourhood of Gaza City), the IDF (army) mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. As a result, the troops fired toward them and they were killed,” the army said in a statement.
“The IDF began reviewing the incident immediately. The IDF emphasises that this is an active combat zone in which ongoing fighting over the last few days has occurred. Immediate lessons from the event have been learned, which have been passed on to all IDF troops in the field,” IDF added.
Calling the hostage deaths an “unbearable tragedy” Benjamin Netanyahu “Together with the entire people of Israel, I bow my head in deep sorrow and mourn the fall of three of our dear sons,” he added.
The conflict, as reported by the Hamas government, has claimed the lives of over 18,800 individuals, with a predominant impact on women and children. Additionally, the Committee to Protect Journalists notes that more than 60 journalists and media personnel have lost their lives since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel resumed its operations on Friday at an aid crossing into Gaza amidst calls from the United States, for a more measured approach in its extensive campaign against Hamas.
The war began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people, as per Israeli officials. Israel has initiated a significant operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and rescuing approximately 250 hostages held captive in Gaza by militants. This forceful offensive has resulted in widespread destruction across the embattled region.