IDF Chief of Staff on the Death of Three Hostages in Gaza: “I Am Responsible for What Happened”

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Herzi Halevi

IDF Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi, released a statement taking responsibility for the tragic killing of three Israeli hostages who escaped their Hamas captors in Gaza.

The initial investigation revealed a violation of the military’s rules of engagement during the incident.

Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer El-Talalqa, who had survived seventy days of captivity, were shot by IDF forces on Friday during operations in Gaza City. The preliminary findings of the investigation were disclosed in a virtual briefing to journalists on Saturday.

Herzi Halevi expressed deep regret and sorrow over the incident, recognizing the pain it has inflicted on the families of the victims. In his statement, he emphasized the IDF’s unwavering commitment to rescuing abductees alive and ensuring their safe return home.

Halevi explained, “I think that the three abductees did everything so that we would understand – they moved without shirts so that we would not be suspected of carrying a load on their bodies and held a white cloth so that we would understand”

“The shooting of the hostages was carried out contrary to the opening fire instructions,” admitted Halevi. “It is forbidden to shoot at those who raise a white flag and ask to surrender. But this shooting was carried out during combat and under pressure.”

Detailing the circumstances, the Chief of Staff highlighted the complexities faced by IDF soldiers in the field, where split-second decisions can determine life or death.

Halevi pledged to draw lessons from the incident and implement measures to prevent such occurrences in future conflicts. The IDF aims to maintain transparency with the public and the families involved, providing updates on the investigation.

Hezbollah launched rocket ‘20 meters’ from UN compound

YAAKOV LAPPIN

IDF chief on Lebanon border: “This must end with a very clear change” • IDF kills new Hamas Shejaiya Battalion commander.

Israeli troops operating in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Dec. 10, 2023. Credit: IDF.

Since hostilities began on the northern border in parallel with Hamas’s mass murder attack on Oct. 7, Hezbollah has repeatedly used UNIFIL positions as human shields, firing on Israel from nearby. The UNIFIL head of mission and force commander “was notified” of the latest incident, the IDF stated.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzl Halevi visited the Lebanon border on Sunday, reviewing the 91st Territorial Division and stating that “it is clear to us that this must end with a very clear change of the situation.”

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the chief of staff met forces in the area, adding that northern residents would return when security is restored.

Meanwhile, in the south, IDF ground, air and naval troops are continuing to carry out joint operations to kill terrorists and destroy their weapons and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

IDF troops are operating against several terrorist strongholds in the Gaza Strip, including Jabalia, Shejaiya in Gaza City, Beit Hanun and Khan Yunis. The troops attack the strongholds, eliminate terrorists and locate and destroy terrorist infrastructure. In addition, Israel Navy sailors operate off the coast of the Gaza Strip, supporting IDF ground troops and striking terrorist targets from the sea.

Following precise IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) intelligence, the Israel Air Force killed the new commander of Hamas’s Shejaiya Battalion, Emad Krikae, the military stated. The previous commander of the Shejaiya Battalion was killed by the IDF earlier in the war.

“Krikae had been deputy commander of Shejaiya. Earlier he had been responsible for anti-tank missile training in the Gaza City Brigade,” said the military. He also participated in anti-tank missile fire and terrorist raids carried out inside Israeli territory. 

Since Hamas violated the ceasefire in late November and the IDF resumed combat shortly thereafter, the IAF has struck more than 3,500 terror targets in the Gaza Strip, said the military. Among those were targets identified in real-time by IDF troops on the ground. Since the beginning of the war, more than 22,000 terror targets have been struck in the Gaza Strip. 

Doctors, and paramedics of the IAF’s tactical search and rescue squadron, Unit 669, continue their rescue operations from in Gaza. Over the past week, 669’s helicopter crews and medical teams carried out approximately 60 evacuations of wounded soldiers from combat zones, providing advanced, life-saving treatment.

In recent days, soldiers from the 282nd Brigade have been operating in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the 188th Brigade in the Shejaiya area

The Artillery Corps struck more than 20 terrorist targets, including weapons storage facilities, booby-trapped houses and Hamas infrastructure.

Earlier on Sunday, two suspicious aerial targets, which infiltrated from Lebanon, were identified in the Western Galilee and were intercepted by the IAF Aerial Defense Array.

Two IDF soldiers were moderately injured, and additional soldiers were lightly injured from shrapnel and smoke inhalation. 

In response, IAF fighter jets carried out extensive strikes on Hezbollah terrorist organization targets in Lebanese territory.

Israel Daily News – War Day 65, December 10, 2023

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137 hostages remain in Hamas captivity as fighting renewed

UPDATE DESK Israel At War

Of those, 117 are men and 20 women. They include 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners.

Israelis call for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Nov. 21, 2023. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.
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The Israel Defense Forces resumed combat operations in the Gaza Strip on Friday morning after Hamas broke a week-long ceasefire, throwing into doubt the further release of hostages.

“The Hamas-ISIS terrorist organization has violated the framework. It has not met its obligation to release all of the women hostages today and has launched rockets at Israeli citizens,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Friday.

However, Israel’s government said it is committed to seeing that all the hostages return home.

To date, 110 people have returned to Israel. Eighty-six are Israelis and 24 foreign citizens.

According to the latest numbers, 137 remain in captivity. Of those, 117 are men and 20 women. They include 126 Israelis and 11 foreigners.

Six hostages returned on Thursday night. They are: Shani Goren, 29, Nili Margalit, 41, Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30, Sapir Cohen, 29, Bilal Ziyadne, 18, and Aisha Ziyadne, 17.

Released earlier in the day were Mia Shem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40.

Israel has focused on the return first of women and children. Two hostages under the age of 18 remain in captivity. Ten are 75 and older. They include husbands of women already released. Hamas purposefully separated families.

Two captives were murdered by Hamas: IDF Cpl. Noa Marciano, 19, who served at the Nahal Oz base and Yehudit Weiss, 65, from Kibbutz Be’eri. Their bodies were recovered by IDF soldiers near Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Hamas said on Wednesday that a mother and her two children: Shiri Bibas, 4-year-old Ariel, and 10-month-old Kfir were killed in a bombing. Israel has not independently verified the accuracy of the terror group’s claims.

Reports emerging from those released describe terrible conditions with little food or medical care.