(NewsInsights.org) – Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) faced building-to-building fighting during a massive retaliatory operation to eliminate Hamas on December 15. The push led troops to breach the rules of engagement in at least one incident where IDF soldiers killed three Israeli hostages who were holding a white flag.
Troops were fighting through the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City on December 15, encountering stiff resistance. Samer Talalka, 22, Yotam Haim, 28, and Alon Shamriz, 26, emerged half naked from one of the buildings in the neighborhood, carrying a makeshift white flag.
According to an official who spoke to the BBC on the condition of anonymity, one of the soldiers felt threatened when the men were about 10 meters away and yelled that they were “terrorists,” opening fire on them. The soldiers killed two men in the initial volley, and the third made it back to the building wounded.
Soldiers heard someone cry out in Hebrew for help, and the commander ordered a ceasefire. Reports conflict over how the third hostage died. One report said troops shot and killed the wounded hostage when he reemerged from the building, while another report indicated he died from the wounds he had sustained earlier.
An IDF search of the building uncovered messages written on fabric that said “SOS” and “Help, 3 hostages.” Officials couldn’t tell whether the men had escaped or their captors had abandoned them. The men appeared to have stayed at the building for some time.
Israeli officials have admitted the breach of their own rules of engagement occurred when troops did not afford the three unarmed, shirtless men carrying a white flag of truce the ability to surrender or speak with the officers in charge. One defense official said the three men did everything they could to help the military understand, including removing their shirts so that troops knew they had no bombs.
Organizations like Human Rights Watch have called Israeli tactics into question before, charging that abuses have taken place since the Jewish state began its counteroffensive. International pressure continues to mount toward the implementation of a durable ceasefire and return of all hostages.
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