Trigger happy IDF shoot their own men:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67738111Israel Gaza: Hostages were carrying white cloth when shot, IDF says
1 hour ago
Three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza were shot dead while holding a white cloth, an Israeli military official says.
The official said the case was "against our rules of engagement" and an investigation was happening at the "highest level".
The hostages - Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Talalka, 22, and Alon Shamriz, 26 - were killed in Shejaiya on Friday.
Israeli troops have been facing stiff resistance in the area near Gaza City.
The case will add pressure on Israeli authorities to reach a deal for the release of captives who remain in Gaza.
More than 120 people remain hostage in Gaza, after being abducted in the Hamas attacks on 7 October. The wait of their families has gripped Israel, as the military carries out its offensive against Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a news conference on Saturday evening that there would be no let-up in the Israeli operations.
"Military pressure is necessary both for the return of the hostages and for victory. Without military pressure... we have nothing," Mr Netanyahu said.
Hamas, for its part, said it had told mediators there would be no negotiations to release hostages "unless the aggression against our people stops once and for all".
An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an initial investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) suggested the three hostages emerged shirtless from a building, with one carrying a stick with a white cloth.
One of the soldiers, the official added, felt threatened, as the men were at a distance of tens of metres, declared them "terrorists" and opened fired. Two were immediately killed while the third, wounded, returned to the building.
A cry for help was heard in Hebrew and the battalion commander ordered the troops to cease fire. The wounded hostage later re-emerged, and was shot and killed, the official said.
The hostages had either been abandoned by their captors or escaped, the official added.
Meanwhile a freed Thai hostage who was held with the three men recalled his time with them.
Wichian Temthong, 37, said he was "very shocked" and "saddened" to learn of the deaths of the men he spent nearly 50 days in captivity with.
He said they had no common language so they used hand signals to communicate and give each other moral support.