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Israel’s Netanyahu faces protests as more hostage death details emerge: ‘what is the cabinet waiting for?’

  • Protests started on Friday night outside the nation’s military headquarters, and a major demonstration is planned for Tel Aviv on Saturday evening
  • The prime minister is taking heat for what’s been termed inaction on securing a new prisoner exchange deal, weeks after a brief ceasefire ended

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People in Tel Aviv protest following an announcement by Israel’s military that they had mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas. Photo: Reuters

More details have emerged about the shooting deaths of three Israeli hostages at the hands of the nation’s military during fighting in the Gaza Strip, inflaming criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to free captives held by Hamas.

Protests started on Friday night outside the nation’s military headquarters, and a major demonstration is planned for Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. The prime minister is taking heat for what’s been termed inaction on securing a new prisoner exchange deal, weeks after a brief ceasefire ended.

The Israel Defence Forces revealed on Saturday that the hostages emerged shirtless from a building in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of northern Gaza during fighting, holding a makeshift white flag to signify surrender, and that one shouted “help” in Hebrew. Yet they were shot, contrary to the rules of engagement, as soldiers suspected a Hamas threat.
(From left) Alon Shamriz, Samer Al-Talalka and Yotam Haim, who were abducted from kibbutzim in southern Israel near the Gaza border on October 7. Israeli troops mistakenly shot the three hostages to death on Friday. Photo: AP
(From left) Alon Shamriz, Samer Al-Talalka and Yotam Haim, who were abducted from kibbutzim in southern Israel near the Gaza border on October 7. Israeli troops mistakenly shot the three hostages to death on Friday. Photo: AP

The men were identified as Yotam Haim, 28, Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samer Talalka, 25. All were abducted from kibbutzim in southern Israel near the Gaza border on October 7. The Times of Israel reported that the three were trying to escape their captors when they were killed.

Friday’s deaths prompted new questions about the conduct of Israel’s military campaign after US President Joe Biden called its bombing of Gaza “indiscriminate”.

The incident occurred while US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was visiting the region. Israel’s two-month bombardment of Gaza was triggered by brutal attacks on southern Israel by Hamas fighters on October 7. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 240, including the three men shot on Friday, were taken hostage.

Israel and Hamas ended a week-long ceasefire early in December that included daily exchanges of hostages taken by Hamas in the October attack for prisoners held by Israel.

Iris Haim, the mother of Israeli hostage Yotam Haim, at the Israel Embassy in London. Yotam was one of three hostages that Israeli troops mistakenly shot to death on Friday. Photo: AP
Iris Haim, the mother of Israeli hostage Yotam Haim, at the Israel Embassy in London. Yotam was one of three hostages that Israeli troops mistakenly shot to death on Friday. Photo: AP
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