Israel Palestine Conflict: Three Israeli hostages were unintentionally shot and killed by the Israeli forces on Saturday as they continue their siege of Gaza, focusing their attention on the southern portion of the besieged enclave. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed in a statement on X that they mistakenly believed the hostages to be a “threat” and opened fire, killing them in the process.
Mossad Chief David Barnea Sent to Europe for Negotiations
According to Axios, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who referred to the unintentional death as a “unbearable tragedy,” has sent Mossad chief David Barnea to Europe to continue negotiations over the hostages with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar. This weekend, senior Israeli and Qatari officials are anticipated to meet for the first time since the abrupt end of the seven-day truce, when Barnea is scheduled to meet Al Thani.
Initial Forbiddance of Mossad Chief’s Talks in Doha
It has been reported that earlier this week, Netanyahu forbade the head of Mossad from going to Doha, the capital of Qatar, for talks regarding hostages. It seems, though, that he has since had second thoughts. After the hostages were accidentally killed, there was a large-scale demonstration in Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Junction. In a flash stir, sizable crowds marched in the direction of the IDF’s Kirya military headquarters, demanding that the Israeli government take the lead in negotiating a hostage settlement.
Chants for Freedom
“There is no victory until every last hostage is released!” the crowds chanted, The Times of Israel reported. The health ministry in the region, which is run by Hamas, reports that the number of deaths in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict has increased to 18,787. The ministry also stated that the fighting has resulted in 50,897 injuries.
Immediate Lesson Learned After Unintentional Hostage Killing
The IDF stated in its X post that “all IDF troops in the field” have received the “immediate lesson” they learned from the unintentional killing of the three hostages. “The IDF emphasises that this is an active combat zone in which ongoing fighting over the last few days has occurred… The IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences. Our national mission is to locate the missing and return all the hostages home,” the post on the micro-blogging site read. Terrorists from Hamas abducted the three hostages that Israeli forces mistakenly killed on October 7.
Hostages Believed to Have Escaped or Been Left Behind by Hamas
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israeli Army, stated that the three hostages were thought to have either escaped from their Hamas captors or been left behind. He stated that the Army had expressed “deep sorrow” and was looking into the incident. “Perhaps in the last few days, or over the past day, we still don’t know all the details,” he said.
Al Jazeera Cameraman Killed in Israeli Drone Strike
Samer Abu Daqqa, an Al Jazeera cameraman, was killed on Friday by an Israeli drone strike in Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. Alongside the network’s chief correspondent for Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, who sustained injuries in the attack, he was reporting from a school. “Following Samer’s injury, he was left to bleed to death for over 5 hours, as Israeli forces prevented ambulances and rescue workers from reaching him, denying the much-needed emergency treatment,” Al Jazeera said in a statement.
Dahdouh Describes Samer’s Injuries and Tragic Passing
Speaking from a hospital bed, Dahdouh said that while Samer was unable to walk due to his injuries and lay bleeding until passing away hours later, he was able to do so. According to Al Jazeera, there was so much destruction in southern Gaza that roads were blocked, forcing an ambulance that was sent to Samer to return. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Samer, a father of four, is the 64th journalist to die in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Joe Biden Informed About Incident During Friday Press Briefing
Spokesman for the White House National Security Council John Kirby described the news of the unintentional deaths of three Israeli hostages as “tragic” and “heartbreaking”. He stated that US President Joe Biden has been informed about the incident during a press briefing on Friday. “I think the Israelis will certainly take a look at this, and I’m sure they will do the forensics and to try to figure out how this happened. That’s certainly the way we would approach a situation like this,” Kirby added.
Israeli Cabinet Permits Aid Entry to Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing
On Friday, the Israeli cabinet decided to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, which is located on the Israel-Gaza-Egypt triple border. This border crossing has never been opened before the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel’s announcement to reopen Kerem Shalom was welcomed by the UN. According to The Times of Israel, spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the recent intense rains have made the humanitarian situation facing the Palestinians in Gaza worse.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
