Information about three hostages signaling for IDF rescue didn’t reach the 17th Battalion of the Kfir Brigade as they took over from another battalion in Shejaiya on Friday morning. Tragically, this lack of communication resulted in the accidental shooting and death of the hostages by IDF forces, Kan News reports.

Soldiers involved in the incident revealed that the shooter, responsible for the deaths of Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalka, was unaware of the white flag carried by the hostages. The briefing he received suggested that the entire northern area from where the hostages emerged was designated as a combat zone without IDF presence, permitting the shooting of any suspicious individuals.

The ongoing investigation is now centering on the shooting of the third victim, Yotam Haim. Surprisingly, this occurred after the battalion commander had ordered a “cease fire,” and despite Haim being injured and retreating back into the building.

Preliminary findings from the investigation, overseen by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, indicate that an IDF marksman inside the structure identified the three hostages as suspicious around 10:00 in broad daylight. Despite being unarmed and one holding a white flag, the marksman used precise shots from his Trijicon viewer, magnifying objects four times more than the naked eye.

Walking shirtless just meters away from the soldiers’ location, the hostages became victims of the marksman’s gunfire. Post-shooting, the marksman shouted “Terrorists!” prompting the battalion commander to order a cease-fire. However, despite hearing cries in Hebrew of “save me” from the building where the third hostage sought refuge, the forces proceeded to attack, calling the person to exit, and at close range, at least one fighter fired towards him.

{Matzav.com Israel}