Israeli Military Dog's Heroic Actions Captured on Camera Before Tragic Friendly Fire Incident
The tragic incident of Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by friendly fire unveils chilling evidence The IDF spokesperson confirmed that their voices were recorded on a GoPro attached to an Israeli military dog, five days prior to the unfortunate event
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Wednesday that the voices of three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza were captured on a GoPro camera attached to a military dog five days before the tragic incident. The footage, discovered by the IDF on Tuesday, was recorded during a military confrontation between Israeli forces and Hamas militants at the location where the hostages were being kept, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated at a daily news briefing. The dog was killed during the confrontation.
"We were able to hear voices, and upon analyzing the clip, we discovered that all three hostages were clearly identifiable in the audio," Hagari mentioned. He did not disclose the specifics of what Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka were heard saying.
The gunmen who were holding the three men were killed during the clash, allowing the captives to escape, according to Hagari. He cited an initial analysis of the GoPro video by the IDF.
Israel is in shock following the IDF's acknowledgment that it killed the hostages on Friday. The three men had been captured by Hamas during the group's terror attack on October 7.
Loved ones and acquaintances come together to mourn at the memorial service of Alon Shamriz, who was tragically killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. His wrongful death occurred after being held captive by Hamas since the October 7 attack. The solemn gathering took place at kibbutz Shefayim near Tel Aviv on December 17, 2023.
On Saturday, an IDF official reported that the trio had exited a building several dozen meters from a group of Israeli troops. They were not wearing shirts and were carrying a white flag, according to the official who spoke anonymously to journalists about the ongoing investigation.
After feeling threatened, a soldier fired their weapon, resulting in the immediate deaths of two men and the injury of a third who fled back into the building. Despite hearing a cry for help in Hebrew, the Israeli unit was unable to prevent the additional burst of gunfire. Tragically, the third hostage later died. The news has prompted a range of reactions from the families of the hostages, with some expressing anger and others showing forgiveness.
Avi Shimriz, the father of the murdered 26-year-old hostage Alon, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not reaching out to him or visiting to offer condolences, accusing him of cowardice. Shimriz stated in an interview with Israels Channel 13 News, "The Prime Minister hasn't had the courage to call or visit, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has reached out to me twice."
His frustration was palpable upon discovering that Israeli soldiers had not only killed the Hamas fighters holding the three hostages, but had also missed the opportunity to gather valuable intelligence that could potentially have saved them.
"Clearly, there was a significant mistake made [â¦] This is a serious screw-up," he stated. "The shooter should have refrained from opening fire, and as a trained fighter, should have been aware that you only engage once you are certain of the threat."
Shimriz criticized the commanders for not informing the soldiers about the possibility of hostages in the area and for failing to circulate photographs of the captives so that soldiers could potentially recognize them. Despite this, he acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by the troops in the field, expressing understanding for the difficult situations they have encountered and the losses they have suffered at the hands of Hamas. He emphasized the importance of preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The three hostages killed are identified as, from left to right, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka
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What we know about how 3 Israeli hostages were killed by the IDF
Netanyahu visited Iris Haim, who lost her son Yotam in the same incident. She sent a message to the unit involved in the shooting, saying "Everything that happened is completely not your fault."
She spoke to the battalion in an audio message, expressing her love and support from a distance. She emphasized that the responsibility for the situation lies with Hamas and urged the soldiers to stay safe, emphasizing the importance of their work for the Jewish people.
"Do not hesitate for a moment. If you encounter a terrorist, do not worry about harming a hostage by accident. Your priority is to protect yourselves so that you can ultimately protect us," she urged the soldiers, inviting them to visit her family.
"We want to meet you in person, embrace you, and assure you that what you did, no matter how difficult and painful it is to acknowledge, was likely the necessary action at that moment. None of us are here to pass judgment or harbor anger towards you."
The IDF has stated that the shooting violated its rules of engagement and the soldiers responsible will be subject to disciplinary action. The neighborhood of Shejaiya in Gaza City, where the shootings occurred, has been a site of intense fighting in the past few days. The IDF has reported facing ambush attempts and attacks by suicide bombers and assailants disguised as civilians.
Before news of the three hostages deaths was announced, Israel had said Friday that they believe 132 captives remained in Gaza, of whom 112 were thought to still be alive.
