The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Friday that they accidentally killed three hostages during a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army spokesman stated on Friday afternoon that this came more than two months after the Hamas-led attack from Gaza, during which around 240 hostages were taken in its assault on Israel.
Key Facts
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed the killings at a press conference on Friday, stating that Israeli forces considered the three Israeli hostages a “threat” during a ground operation in Shujaiya in northern Gaza.
Hagari said that Israeli soldiers “fired upon them and killed them.”
The three hostages – two of whom were identified as Yuval Chaim and Samer Talaka (the name of the third hostage has not been disclosed at the request of his family) – were transported to Israel for examination, where Hagari confirmed that “they were three Israeli hostages.”
Main Background
Fighting in Gaza resumed on December 1, marking the end of the longest ceasefire since the war broke out more than two months ago. The ceasefire agreement was mediated by Qatari officials and initially lasted for four days before being temporarily extended. During that period, Hamas released more than 100 hostages, the majority of whom were women and children, although Israeli officials claimed earlier this month that Hamas did not adhere to the agreement to release all women held during the Hamas attack on October 7 against Israel. Since the resumption of fighting, U.S. officials have urged Israel to reduce combat operations in Gaza. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week that the United States wants to see the fighting in Gaza diminish into a low-intensity war in the coming weeks involving smaller, more targeted strikes, according to a New York Times report.
News Developments
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister announced that humanitarian aid would be allowed to pass directly from Israel to Gaza for the first time since the fighting began, according to multiple reports on Friday amidst increasing calls for humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Aid supplies had been restricted to the Rafah crossing in Egypt.
Further Reading
Some aid allowed to enter Gaza through Israel for the first time since October 7, reports say
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