IDF mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages during combat in Gaza
Israeli forces mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages during combat in Shejaiya, Gaza, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said during a press briefing Friday.
The hostages were identified as: Yotam Haim, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza; Samer Talalka, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am; and Alon Shamriz, who was taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “an unbearable tragedy.”
“The entire State of Israel will mourn this evening. My heart goes out to the grieving families in their difficult time,” he said.
Israeli army mistakenly kills 3 hostages during combat in Gaza
The IDF said it’s reviewing the incident. The IDF said "immediate lessons from the event have been learned, which have been passed on to all IDF troops in the field."
Haim, 28, is survived by his parents, brother and sister, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum said. He was a gifted musician, an animal lover and loved to cook Italian food, the forum said.
Shamriz, 26, lived in the Young Generation neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, according to the forum.
Shamriz was slated to study computer engineering at Sapir College, the forum said.
"Alon's family and friends described him as a lover of life and a dedicated basketball fan. He played on the Sha'ar Hanegev basketball team," the forum said in a statement.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the incident "heartbreaking" and a "tragic mistake," adding it is not particularly a reflection of Israeli’s ability to be precise.
