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Yotam Haim, 28, Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samer El-Talalka, 22 were shot by IDF forces in Jabaliya, a Hamas stronghold near Gaza City in the north of the Gaza strip.<\/p>\n
According to witness reports all were bear-chested, and one was waving a white flag fashioned out of a stick and handkerchief
But as they approached, an Israeli soldier on a rooftop shouted \u201cterrorist\u201d and opened fire.<\/p>\n
While two of the hostages died instantly, the third fled into a nearby building.<\/p>\n
The unit’s commander was called to the scene and ordered the soldiers into the building where they located and killed the third hostage, despite his pleas for help in Hebrew.<\/p>\n
Later it also emerged that the IDF had identified a nearby building marked with \u201cSOS\u201d and \u201cHelp! Three hostages\u201d two days earlier but had believed it might be a trap.<\/p>\n
With around 115 Israeli hostages still in captivity, the incident prompted a series of angry demonstrations on the Kirya, Israel\u2019s sprawling military headquarters compound in Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n
Chanting \u201cShame\u201d, \u201cThere\u2019s no time\u201d and \u201cDeal now!\u201d, the protesters represent a growing unease in Israel at the way in which the war is being prosecuted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Israel can\u2019t protect its citizens, why does it exist?\u201d demanded demonstrator Ben Aviv.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is obvious this situation is not going to be resolved by military action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Middle East expert Ronen Bergman, author of \u2018Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations\u2019, said the shootings may cause PM Benjamin Netanyahu to rethink Israel\u2019s strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tragedy happened in a Hamas stronghold, in an area which was supposed to have been evacuated, it is possible, then, that IDF forces believed anyone they saw was a terrorist – but this must be formally investigated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this incident is serious enough that it could lead to questioning over the conduct of the war. \u201c<\/p>\n
IDF forces invaded the Gaza Strip on October 16, nine days after Hamas launched its terror attacks on Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe IDF set two aims: dismantling the military infrastructure of Hamas and to free the hostages.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the IDF claims the military invasion encourages the possibility of the hostages’ release, it could actually be that these two aims are no longer compatible.\u201d<\/p>\n