The 24 hours of rest is often spent at home with family. Last Friday, however, about 1,000 people protested on the streets of Tel Aviv after nightfall, after news that three Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been shot dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalqa were killed on Friday morning, after apparently managing to escape their Hamas captors in Gaza City; the three men, all in their 20s, approached an Israeli army unit shirtless and with their hands up to show they were not carrying weapons or explosives. One of the three was waving a makeshift white flag.
According to the IDF's preliminary inquiry, released on Friday evening, a sniper nevertheless shot two of the men, and the third, who ran into a building while shouting "Help!" in Hebrew, was shot dead as well.
The army said the killings went against the IDF's rules of engagement, and were being investigated at the highest level.
This story is from the December 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 20, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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