Israel at war
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IDF Admits Hostages Killed By IDF Fire
Three Hostages Were Likely Killed in November by Israeli Strike, I.D.F. Says
An inquiry into the deaths of three Israeli hostages determined that they probably died as a result of a military airstrike targeting a Hamas commander.
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An Israeli soldier posting a photograph of Ron Sherman, one of the hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, in November.Credit...Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times
By Adam Rasgon
Reporting from Jerusalem
Sept. 15, 2024Updated 2:24 p.m. ET
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The Israeli military announced on Sunday that, according to an internal investigation, three hostages were probably killed as a result of an airstrike targeting a senior Hamas commander in November.
The investigation’s findings highlight the precarious circumstances of hostages in the Gaza Strip, who — like Palestinian civilians — are vulnerable to Israel’s ongoing military operations in the territory. The findings also suggest that senior Hamas officials, including Yahya Sinwar, the most powerful figure in the group, may surround themselves with hostages as U.S. and Israeli officials have said.
In its statement, the Israeli military said it was “highly likely” that the hostages, Cpl. Nik Beizer, Sgt. Ron Sherman and Elia Toledano, were killed “as a result of a byproduct” of an Israeli military strike targeting Ahmed al-Ghandour, the commander of Hamas’s military wing in northern Gaza.
The military said it was presenting “a high-probability assessment” based on where the hostages’ bodies were found in December, as well as intelligence materials, an analysis of the strike, pathological reports and the conclusions of forensic examiners. Definitively determining the cause of their deaths, the military said, was not possible.
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“The I.D.F. shares in the grief of the families over the devastating loss,” the military said.
The three slain hostages, the investigation indicated, were in a tunnel complex used by Mr. al-Ghandour, a top official whose death Hamas later acknowledged. The Israeli military said it had information at the time suggesting that the three hostages were in another place.
The announcement on Sunday came as advocates for the hostages and their families were demanding that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, do more to secure a deal with Hamas for the release of the dozens of living hostages still in Gaza, even if that allows Hamas to survive the war with Israel.
During the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks, militants abducted roughly 250 hostages to Gaza, including women, children and elderly people. Around 100 total, including living hostages and bodies, are still in Gaza, according to the Israeli authorities.
Mr. Netanyahu and his supporters want to hold out for a deal that would make it easier for the Israeli military to continue fighting Hamas after a short truce — even if playing hardball delays the hostages’ freedom and more die in captivity. Hamas has demanded a permanent end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The prime minister has also said a central part of his strategy to bring hostages home is to put constant military pressure on Hamas, though many analysts and critics say this approach has put the captives at risk.
Since soldiers discovered the bodies of six hostages in a subterranean tunnel in southern Gaza in late August, a number of major protests in support of bringing the hostages home have occurred in Tel Aviv. Israeli officials have said Hamas militants killed the hostages, citing autopsy results that showed each had been shot in the head.
In recent weeks, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have tried to bring Israel and Hamas closer to a deal but have yet to achieve a breakthrough.
In December, Israeli soldiers mistakenly shot and killed three hostages in northern Gaza.
Many hostages who were released during a short-lived cease-fire in November have since recalled fearing Israeli strikes on Gaza while in captivity.
Adam Rasgon is a reporter for The Times in Jerusalem, covering Israeli and Palestinian affairs. More about Adam Rasgon
So you admit that you condemn abortion and pro-choice and that women do not have control of their own bodies. Not surprised.
Poor deflection. We were talking about two allies sharing a belief that Iran should not have nukes which further proves that Israel takes actions that protect American interests in the area. Stuff like Israel buying politicians is just an old anti-Semitic trope which is easily dispelled as such.
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You are an ignorant liar.
I'm saying that the protests have been useless. According to your numbers 340,000 Gazans have died in the last 9 months while protestors have pounded the pavement in futility thinking that they are saviors when in reality they are suckers.
Geno will say they were Gazan children on their way to take food donations to their parents in the hospital dying from white phosphorous, starvation and drinking polluted water.
Sanctions are starting to go in place.
The ICC and ICJ are coming.
Israel is hated globally and zionism is dead.
Zionism will not recover from genocide.
If you are supporting the positions of the Pope, then you oppose abortion and a woman's right to control her own body. That is why he says Harris is bad in a choice between 2 evils.
Starting? Hahahahaha. BDS was formed in 2005, Geno. It has had no effect on Israel's policies. But then again, it's not even 20 years yet. How many Palis have died in the interim. Your strategy is ensuring more of their deaths.
And their rulings are toothless, as has been demonstrated by Hamas' refusal to obey them.
And globally, nothing has been done to halt Israel's dismantling of Hamas. As long as Israel is fighting, it clearly means that Zionism is NOT dead.
Every single thing you say is garbage, Geno. You could not be more wrong.
The US sent a tacit message when it withdrew the second aircraft carrier a few days ago. Quickly followed by the Houthi missile
The US just doesn’t think POS Nation has what it takes. .
The US just doesn’t think POS Nation has what it takes. .