The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said they “accidentally killed three hostages” during fighting in Gaza, which the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was “an unbearable tragedy” that all of Israel is grieving.“My heart goes out to the bereaved families at this difficult time. I strengthen our courageous soldiers engaged in the sacred mission of bringing home our hostages, while risking their lives in doing so,” Netanyahu added. “Today, on this painful evening, we will dress our wounds, learn the lessons and continue the most important effort of bringing all the hostages home.”Some 130 hostages remain in Gaza amid Israel’s operation against Hamas.The three hostages were killed in the Gaza City district of Shijaiyah.In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the IDF said its soldiers mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. “As a result,” the post added, the soldiers “fired toward them and the hostages were killed.”Two of the victims were identified as Yotam Haim, who was taken from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka, who was taken from Kibbutz Nir Am. The IDF said it was withholding the third hostage’s name at the family’s request.The bodies have been returned to Israel.“This is a tragic incident, the army bears full responsibility,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said.The IDF said it was investigating the incident.Protests in IsraelScores of people took to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest the death of the three hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza, according to media reports.Local media reports and images on television showed protesters blocking a main street in the centre of the city, demanding the government take immediate action to secure the release of the hostages.“Their time is running out! Bring them home now!” the crowd was heard chanting, according to a report by the Times of Israel. “There is no victory until every last hostage is released!” was also heard.The demonstrators carried placards with pictures of the hostages as they marched toward the Israeli military headquarters, DPA news agency reported.Some protesters criticised Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government for not doing enough to secure their release. Several pressed for another hostage deal, as was implemented at the end of November as part of a brief cease-fire.Of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 terror attacks in southern Israel, 110 were returned as part of the cease-fire arrangement, along with several Russian-Israelis and Thai nationals and a Filipino freed in separate deals.Al Jazeera cameraman killedAl Jazeera said Friday that its cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa had been killed in Gaza in an Israeli attack.According to the Qatari network, Abu Daqqa, along with correspondent Wael Dahdouh, were reporting for Al Jazeera Arabic from school grounds in Khan Younis when the Israel strike occurred. Khan Younis is a major city in southern Gaza.Al Jazeera reported that Abu Daqa was a resident of Abasan al-Kabira near Khan Younis, and that he has four children.Israel has not commented on the incident.Before Abu Daqqa’s death, at least 63 journalists had been killed since the conflict erupted between Hamas and Israel on October 7, according to the media freedom organisation, The Committee to Protect Journalists.This article was originally published on DW.
