Israeli hostage waves white flag after being shot by mistake

A preliminary investigation by the Israeli military shows that a hostage shot by mistake in the Gaza Strip waved a white flag and called for help in Hebrew.

An Israeli Southern Command official said on December 16 that the mistaken shooting that killed three hostages occurred in the Shejaiya area of ​​Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip. This is an area where Hamas gunmen are still active, often disguised as civilians and using tricks to distract the enemy.

An Israeli soldier spotted a group of three men coming out of a building about 10 meters from the guard post. The soldier believed that the group of three strangers were actually bait to lure Israeli soldiers into an ambush.

"All the hostages were shirtless. They were waving a stick with a white cloth hanging from it. The soldier felt threatened and opened fire," said an Israeli military official.

Israeli soldiers in action in the Gaza Strip on November 22. Photo: Reuters

According to initial reports, the soldier shouted that the hostages were terrorists, prompting the unit to open fire, killing two of them on the spot. The other hostage was wounded but managed to escape into a nearby building. He then called for help in Hebrew.

Israeli military officials said the battalion commander immediately ordered a ceasefire. However, when the third hostage reappeared, another soldier opened fire, killing the hostage.

The Israeli military assessed both details, including the act of opening fire on a group of three people before identifying the target and the act of opening fire on a wounded hostage who called for help, as violations of the rules of engagement.

The three victims of the December 15 shooting incident have been identified as Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalka, who were kidnapped from the villages of Kfar Aza and Nir Am on October 7.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an "unbearable tragedy". The White House also described the incident as a "tragic mistake". Hundreds of people protested in Tel Aviv calling on the government to prioritize the rescue of the hostages.

Location of Gaza City and other towns in the Gaza Strip. Graphics: BBC

Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, Times of Israel )

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