FT: Documented cases of IOF shooting Gaza civilians waving white flags

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Financial Times
16 Dec 2023 22:59
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While the incident is currently under investigation, the families of the approximately 130 remaining captives are demanding Israeli PM Netanyahu to engage in negotiations.

Families and supporters of Israeli captives attend a rally calling for their return, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 (AP)

A report by the Financial Times on Saturday detailed that families of captives plan to launch a protest in "Tel Aviv" as Israeli occupation forces (IOF) "mistakenly" shot three presumed escapees in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, an IOF spokesman said the captives, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka, were misidentified by the IOF who thought they were resistance fighters.

The report states that the captives were located within "tens of meters" from Israeli positions, according to the official. The report adds that "despite one of them having pale white skin and red hair," an Israeli soldier mistook them for resistance fighters attempting to lure Israeli soldiers into a trap.

Two of them were killed instantly, and the third lost his life as he sought cover while urgently calling for help in Hebrew. A military official revealed that, despite a cease-fire order issued by the local commander during the shooting, the soldiers did not comply.

The incident followed documented cases by Palestinian human rights groups highlighting instances where Gazan civilians waving white flags were shot by Israeli soldiers.

While the Shujaiya incident is currently under Israeli investigation, the families of the approximately 130 remaining captives are demanding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engage in negotiations.

Though Netanyahu called the killing an "unbearable tragedy" and expressed the regime's commitment to return all captives, families were still critical of the regime's lack of initiative in renewing a prisoner deal swap.

The report said that "Israel's" Mossad chief, David Barnea, recently met with the Qatari Prime Minister to revive talks for a possible deal to secure hostage release. However, progress in the talks seems to be slow, a person briefed on the discussions said.

The resistance has previously stated the release of remaining captives, who are all IOF soldiers, would require the regime to free some of the 7,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails.

Read more: Axios: Mossad chief met with Qatari PM for captive talks