In a heart-wrenching interview with NBC News, Avi Shamriz, the father of one of the three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli forces, delivered a scathing message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Shamriz accused the government of betraying its citizens, stating, "You murdered my son twice. You let Hamas take my son on Oct. 7, and you killed my son on Dec. 14."

The tragic incident occurred during intense fighting between Israeli military forces and Hamas militants on Friday, nearly 70 days after Alon Shamriz, Avi's 26-year-old son, was kidnapped. Regrettably, the troops also mistakenly killed the other two hostages - Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka.

Avi Shamriz, speaking from the Shefayim kibbutz, did not mince words when expressing his contempt for Netanyahu's government, which has faced criticism for being caught off guard by the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, resulting in the loss of over 1,200 lives. "They cannot serve us. They don't deserve us, as a country, as a community. They are not our leaders," he said. Shamriz accused the government of prioritizing self-interests and neglecting the welfare of its citizens and the hostages.

The accidental killings have sparked widespread anger among the Israeli population. On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding that the government reengage in negotiations with Hamas to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences in a social media post on Friday, acknowledging the nation's mourning and highlighting the volatile combat zone where numerous incidents have occurred in recent days. Immediate lessons from the tragedy are being shared with all forces in the field.

Netanyahu's government has faced international condemnation for its military offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 19,400 people and leaving more than 52,000 wounded since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities. The United Nations reports that 90% of the population has been displaced as a result of the conflict.

President Joe Biden had warned of Israel losing support worldwide just three days before the accidental killings, urging Netanyahu to consider making changes to his government.

The mistaken shootings occurred in Shijaiyah, a Gaza neighborhood known to be a Hamas stronghold. The Israel Defense Forces stated that in the midst of combat, the troops "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat" and fired upon them. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF's chief spokesperson, confirmed that their bodies were later transported to Israeli territory for identification.

The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, an advocate for the hostages and their loved ones, released a statement expressing their profound grief for the Shamriz family.

Liat Bell Sommer, a spokesperson for the forum, described Alon Shamriz as a "lover of life" and a dedicated basketball fan. Recounting the last conversation between Alon and his older brother Yonatan on Oct. 7, Sommer revealed that Yonatan assured Alon of their love and support before they lost contact.

As the nation mourns the tragic loss of the three hostages, the incident has shed light on the government's response and reignited calls for renewed negotiations to secure the release of the remaining captives.