War between Israel and Hamas: family of one of the hostages killed “by mistake” blames government and army

Family requires responsibility. The brother of one of three hostages mistakenly killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip accused those who “abandoned” him of also “killing” him during his funeral on Sunday. “You did everything right,” said Ido Shamriz, speaking to his 26-year-old brother Alon at his funeral in Shefaim, a kibbutz north of Tel Aviv. Kidnapped on October 7, he was shot dead along with two other hostages as they shouted for help in Hebrew, waved a white flag and were shirtless for fear of being mistaken for Hamas militants.

“You did all this in the face of a ridiculous chain of command, an irresponsible government and a barbaric terrorist organization. You didn’t need anyone, you did everything right, and it was so close,” said another brother, Jonathan, according to Walla.

Since the mistake was announced Friday in Gaza City, pressure from relatives of the hostages calling for a resumption of negotiations with Hamas has continued unabated. Hundreds of people marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday night before setting up camp in front of the Defense Ministry’s headquarters to demand the return of their loved ones.

“One more moment and you would be in my arms”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he was “heartbroken” but wanted to “maintain military pressure” while Hamas has made a truce a precondition for any agreement. The army, for its part, said it regretted the “tragic event” that occurred in the Gaza Strip, where soldiers face “great pressure,” “intense fighting” and “numerous ambushes.” However, she claimed a “violation of the rules of engagement” and an investigation is underway.

“You have lived through 70 days of hell,” Alon’s mother Dikla said during her eulogy. “One more moment and you would have been in my arms,” she said.

About 250 people were taken hostage in the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, which authorities said killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians. To date, 129 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip. Israel responded by vowing to “destroy” Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and its strikes have killed 18,800 people, mostly women, children and teenagers, according to Palestinian Islamist movement officials.