Israel

Israel: Protests Breakout in Tel Aviv after IDF Mistakenly Kills 3 Hostages

DEC 16 2023·Updated DEC 17 2023

Story

Image credit: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images News [via Getty Images]

The Facts

Hundreds of Israelis — including those whose family members are still being held hostage in Gaza — took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Friday to demand that their government strike a deal with Hamas in order to return those abducted.
The Jerusalem Post
It came hours after the Israeli military announced that it had mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages during fighting in Gaza. In a statement, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had "mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat." It said that "immediate" lessons from the event have been learned, adding that: "The IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences. Our national mission is to locate the missing and return all the hostages home."
CBS News
The three hostages were later named by the IDF as Yotam Haim, Samar Talalka, and Alon Shamriz. They were aged 28, 22, and 26 respectively.
The Times of Israel
On Friday evening, protestors began massing in Tel Aviv's Kaplan Junction, blocking traffic as they marched towards IDF’s military headquarters in Kirya. According to local reports, chants included: "Their time is running out! Bring them home now!" and "There is no victory until every last hostage is released!"
The Times of Israel
Part of the anger was triggered by reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been holding off on further hostage negotiations with Hamas, reportedly in an attempt to weaken Hamas' hand by attacking them militarily. Earlier in the week, Netanyahu had also reportedly barred David Barnea, head of the Mossad intelligence agency, from traveling to Qatar and further negotiating with Hamas.
The Times of Israel
However, citing an Israeli source, the Walla news agency reported that Netanyahu has since changed his mind and will allow Barnea to travel for talks with Qatari officials in Europe next week. Of the nearly 240 people taken hostage during the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 — which also killed some 1.2K people, mostly civilians — 132 of those are believed to be still held in Gaza. Negotiations during November saw 105 hostages released, while four were released earlier and one was returned via an Israeli rescue operation.
The Times of Israel

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This was a tragic incident where Israeli troops mistakenly identified the hostages as a threat. Immediate lessons have been learned and they've been communicated to all other forces. Israel is doing everything it can to get the hostages back.

CBS News

Establishment-critical narrative

This horrific incident sadly took place because the Israeli government holds the wrong view that it can better retrieve Israeli hostages via military operations. Every day this strategy is employed, more hostages are at risk of dying. Israel needs to stop this and make a deal with Hamas to bring them back immediately.

The Jerusalem Post