Hostages Accidentally killed by Israeli troops were waving white flag, military says

The three hostages killed are identified as, from left to right, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka. Hostages and Missing Families Forum

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The three Israeli hostages who were killed Friday by Israel Defense Forces soldiers in Gaza were shirtless and waving a white flag when they were shot, an IDF official said Saturday, calling the killings a “tragic, tragic event” and a violation of IDF rules of engagement.

The three men came out of a building “tens of meters from our soldiers’ position,” the official said. At least one of the soldiers “feels threatened and opens fire. Two are killed immediately. One is wounded and runs back inside. The soldiers hear a cry for help in Hebrew and the brigade commander issues a ceasefire order, but there is another burst of fire.”

The third hostage died later. It is not clear if the second burst of fire killed him.

More than one IDF soldier fired at the hostages, the official told CNN after briefing journalists.

This was against our rules of engagement. I’ll repeat that: This was against our rules of engagement,” the official said.

The official said there is “intense combat” in the area where the hostages were killed, and “terrorists there are moving around in civilian attire. They are wearing sneakers and jeans. They are trying to pull us into traps.”

The hostages were named Friday as Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shimriz.

It's possible they had escaped or been abandoned by their captors, the official said.

“Hundreds of meters from that location, there was a building with markings of 'SOS' on it, and we are still looking to see if there is a connection between that building and the hostages,” the official said.

The hostages' killing remains under IDF investigation, the official said.