In his first remarks after IDF troops killed three Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says he bears responsibility, and “we will do everything to prevent the recurrence of such cases in the continuation of the fighting,” Report informs via The Times of Israel.
“The incident in which IDF soldiers mistakenly killed Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samar Talalka, may their memory be blessed, is a difficult and painful event,” Halevi says in a video statement.
“The three hostages who survived seventy hellish days, moved towards the IDF soldiers, and were killed by our forces’ fire.”
“There is nothing that the IDF soldiers and their commanders in the Gaza Strip want more than to rescue hostages alive,” he says.
“We did not succeed in this case. We feel the deep sorrow of the families for the deaths of the hostages,” Halevi continues.
Halevi says that “the IDF, and I as its commander, are responsible for what happened, and we will do everything to prevent the recurrence of such cases in the continuation of the fighting.”
“I try to place myself in the head of the soldier in Shejaiya, after days of hard fighting, close encounters, encounters with terrorists dressed in civilian clothes, who arrive in various deceitful ways. He must be alert and ready for any threat,” he says.
“A split-second decision can [result in] life or death,” Halevi says.
He adds that “the three hostages did everything so that we would understand [that they did not pose a threat]: They moved without shirts so that we would not suspect them of carrying a bomb on their bodies, and held a white cloth so that we would understand.”
“The shooting at the hostages was carried out contrary to the open-fire regulations. It is forbidden to shoot at those who raise a white flag and ask to surrender. But this shooting was carried out during combat and under pressure,” Halevi says.
Halevi says the IDF has completed a preliminary investigation into the incident, and immediately sent new protocols to ground forces. ”