New details from the initial investigation of the accidental shooting in Sejaiya, which killed the abductees Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim, Samer Fouad al-Talalqa: The IDF investigation indicates that the abductees raised a white cloth and shouted "help" in Hebrew.
Three abductees accidentally shot by IDF force in Sejaiya - killed // IDF Spokesperson
The incident took place in an area where there were no civilians, and where most of the people identified as civilians are terrorists trying to harm our forces. At the same time, in recent days the forces have encountered cases in which terrorists tried to trap them. According to a senior source, the IDF was not aware of such a scenario in which they could see abductees walking around. A few dozen meters separated the force from the 17th Battalion from the building where the abductees were staying.
According to the investigation of the incident, the three suspicious figures who were identified emerged from a building located a few dozen meters from the building where the force was located, with a white cloth and a stick. One of the soldiers sensed danger, shouted "terrorists" and fired at them in violation of open-fire regulations. The IDF's instruction is not to shoot at anyone who raises a white flag. The soldier hit two of the abductees, and then another abductee ran back to the building. At that point, shouts of "help" were heard in Hebrew.
IDF forces in the Gaza Strip (illustration), photo: IDF Spokesperson
The battalion commander came under fire and believed that the incident was intended to mislead the forces. The fighters shouted to the figure, in retrospect an Israeli kidnapper, to come outside, and apparently shouts of "help" were heard from the building. The figure came out and IDF forces accidentally shot it. Because of the character's appearance, the battalion commander understood that this was an unusual incident and an investigation was launched.
Two days before the tragedy, a few hundred meters from the incident, a building was found with red spray graffiti such as "Three Abducted," "SOS," and "Help." The connection to the incident in which the abductees were accidentally shot dead is being examined. The forces had already encountered such inscriptions on houses that turned out to be booby-trapped.
Yotam Haim, Photo: Private
The forces on the ground were given a sheet of emphasis as a lesson learner. Among the lessons they emphasized: there is a possibility that abductees were abandoned or fled, the forces must be familiar with the feasibility of such an encounter and pay attention to indicative signs - such as Hebrew discourse, raising hands and dress. An update must be made and a senior commander must be hired in the field in order to make decisions. In addition, the open-fire regulations for all forces were refreshed and refined.
The chief of staff arrived immediately after the incident at the Southern Command. According to the source, "This is a terrible tragedy, we could have been a step away from rescuing three of our men who, thanks to the maneuver, their kidnappers were killed or fled. The scenario we have met is a very complex scenario, bordering on impossible. The soldiers' feeling is terrible. They did their job faithfully and risked their lives."
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