In a tragic incident during combat operations in Gaza, the Israeli military confirmed that three hostages were mistakenly killed by friendly fire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that during a mission in the dense neighborhood of Shejaiya, troops "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat" and opened fire, resulting in their deaths.

The bodies of the hostages have been returned to Israel, and the IDF has confirmed their identities. Samer Talalka and Yotam Haim, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas attacks on October 7, were named by the IDF as two of the victims. The family of the third hostage has requested that his name not be released.

The IDF immediately initiated a review of the incident and emphasized that the area where the incident took place is an active combat zone with ongoing fighting. Lessons learned from the tragic event have been communicated to all IDF troops in the field, according to the military's statement. The IDF expressed deep remorse over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, while reaffirming their commitment to locate and return all the remaining hostages.

Earlier this week, the Israeli military reported the recovery of the bodies of three other hostages. Elia Toledano, a 28-year-old who held French citizenship, was positively identified by the IDF. Toledano was attending the Supernova music festival in southern Israel when Hamas launched an attack on October 7. The bodies of Eden Zakaria, 27, and Ziv Dado, 36, were also recovered by the Israeli military last Tuesday.

According to previous statements from the Israeli government, there are an estimated 137 hostages still being held by Hamas. The incident of mistaken identity leading to the death of three Israeli hostages highlights the complexity and risks of combat operations in the region. The IDF's focus remains on safely locating and bringing all the remaining hostages home.

This tragic event underscores the urgent need for careful coordination and precise identification in combat zones to prevent such devastating mistakes. As investigations continue, the IDF's commitment to learn from the incident and ensure the safety of its troops and the hostages remains steadfast.