Yotam Haim, 28, Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samer El-Talalka, 22 were shot by IDF forces in Jabaliya, a Hamas stronghold near Gaza City in the north of the Gaza strip.
According to witness reports all were bear-chested, and one was waving a white flag fashioned out of a stick and handkerchief
But as they approached, an Israeli soldier on a rooftop shouted “terrorist” and opened fire.
While two of the hostages died instantly, the third fled into a nearby building.
The unit’s commander was called to the scene and ordered the soldiers into the building where they located and killed the third hostage, despite his pleas for help in Hebrew.
Later it also emerged that the IDF had identified a nearby building marked with “SOS” and “Help! Three hostages” two days earlier but had believed it might be a trap.
With around 115 Israeli hostages still in captivity, the incident prompted a series of angry demonstrations on the Kirya, Israel’s sprawling military headquarters compound in Tel Aviv.
Chanting “Shame”, “There’s no time” and “Deal now!”, the protesters represent a growing unease in Israel at the way in which the war is being prosecuted.
“If Israel can’t protect its citizens, why does it exist?” demanded demonstrator Ben Aviv.
“It is obvious this situation is not going to be resolved by military action.”
Middle East expert Ronen Bergman, author of ‘Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations’, said the shootings may cause PM Benjamin Netanyahu to rethink Israel’s strategy.
“This tragedy happened in a Hamas stronghold, in an area which was supposed to have been evacuated, it is possible, then, that IDF forces believed anyone they saw was a terrorist – but this must be formally investigated,” he said.
“But this incident is serious enough that it could lead to questioning over the conduct of the war. “
IDF forces invaded the Gaza Strip on October 16, nine days after Hamas launched its terror attacks on Israel.
“The IDF set two aims: dismantling the military infrastructure of Hamas and to free the hostages.
“While the IDF claims the military invasion encourages the possibility of the hostages’ release, it could actually be that these two aims are no longer compatible.”
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This potential incompatibility was highlighted last week by Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi. Asked a hypothetical question: what would Israel do if it located Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, surrounded by hostages, Hanegbi replied:
“That would be a heart-rending dilemma.”
But last night Israeli government sources ruled out any shift in policy.
“The official aims of the government remain dismantling Hamas’ military structure and freeing the remaining hostages, and these are both achievable.”
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