3 hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli troops had been holding a white flag, military officials say

Three Israeli hostages were mistakenly shot and killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip while waving a white flag, signaling a tragic error in Israel’s military operations during its conflict with Hamas.

The incident is likely to intensify pressure on the Israeli government to renew Qatar-mediated negotiations with Hamas. The goal is to exchange more of the remaining Israeli captives, reported to be 129, for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, stated that no further release of hostages would occur before the war ends and Israel agrees to Hamas’ conditions for an exchange.

The incident raises questions about the conduct of Israeli troops, especially in light of reports of civilians being shot at while fleeing to safety in Gaza.

As of the latest reports, the hostages, all in their 20s, were killed in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah. They had been part of a larger group taken hostage by Hamas during a raid into Israel.

There is significant public discourse in Israel, with some criticizing the government’s reliance on military pressure to secure the release of hostages.

The conflict has been deadly for journalists, with a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera among those killed. This highlights the broader dangers faced by media personnel covering the war.

The war has resulted in extensive destruction in northern Gaza and displacement of a large portion of the population, with severe limitations on aid and communications.