Protests grow in Tel Aviv after Israel reported it mistakenly killed three hostages in Gaza: after gathering in front of a headquarters, hundreds of protesters reached the intersection of Kaplan street, one of the main arteries of the city, blocking the road. Ynet reports it, underlining that previously the crowd blocked one of the lanes of Begin Road. The protesters are demanding an immediate agreement for the return home of the hostages held in the Strip, shouting “now, now”. Some of them are holding signs and photos of the abductees.
The families of the Israeli hostages held captive at Gaza are currently reunited at Tel Aviv at the headquarters of their committee to discuss the next measures to be taken. This was announced by the spokesperson of the families who already yesterday – after the news of the killing of three hostages due to a “tragic mistake” by the Israeli army – demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Defense asking Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for more interventions incisive for the immediate release of the “living” hostages.
Who were the hostages killed by the army in Gaza
In Israel it is the day of mourning and anger for the death of three hostages in the hands of Hamas, killed by Israeli soldiers who mistook them for militiamen. But who were they and how was it possible that they fell victim to those who, to free them, set fire to the Gaza Strip?
Yotam Haim, 28, drummer of the heavy metal band Persephore, was kidnapped on October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked his kibbutz, Kfar Aza. Yotam was last seen in a video shot on the morning of October 7 in front of the door of his house in Kfar Aza and sent to his mother, in which gunshots can be heard. The family discovered that his house had been set on fire by terrorists and only later learned that he had been taken hostage and taken to Gaza. Yotam’s brother Tuvi Haim is also a drummer and performs with Netta Barzilai’s band.
Samar Fouad Talalka, 22, was working in the nursery of Kibbutz Nir Am, where he often worked weekend shifts, when the Hamas men arrived on October 7. The family lives in the Bedouin town of Hura.
Alon Shamriz, 26, was studying computer engineering and had been kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
The military believes that “the three escaped or were abandoned by the terrorists who held them captive” as the IDF forces approached.
Shejaiya, in northern Gaza, has long been considered a key Hamas stronghold, home to some of its elite forces and most massive fortifications. The area where the hostages were killed was near the scene of a battle in which nine soldiers were killed on Wednesday.