The parents of three hostages tragically killed in a friendly-fire incident involving Israeli troops in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood held an emotional meeting on Friday.
Yotam Haim, Samar Talalka, and Alon Lulu Shamriz had managed to escape from Hamas captivity before the unfortunate incident.
Their memories were honored by their grieving parents during the heartfelt gathering.
Avi Shamriz, Alon’s father, poignantly expressed the stark contrast between the intended celebration and the somber reality, saying, “Today we should have had a party here, in this house, a party. And to hug the children, and to kiss them, and to hand out sweets to everyone.”
The ongoing pain and sorrow were eloquently described by the parents, with Avi Shamriz stating, “And these thoughts don’t leave our head… Your son is inside your heart.”
Fouad Talalka underscored the enduring impact of their sons’ memory, expressing, “From October 7 until now, it doesn’t get out of your mind.”
The military investigation into the accidental killing revealed distressing details. One of the hostages had been recorded shouting for help days earlier during a gun battle with Hamas. Despite approaching the troops with hands up and waving a white banner, they were fatally shot. The hostages had left signs reading “SOS” and “3 hostages. Help,” but soldiers dismissed them, believing it was a ruse by Hamas.
In an effort to prevent future tragedies, IDF soldiers were shown photos of remaining hostages in Gaza to aid in identification.
The three hostages were initially kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 onslaught, leading to a weeklong truce in late November that resulted in the release of 105 civilians. However, it is believed that 136 hostages, some not alive, remain in Gaza. The bodies of eight hostages have been recovered, and 25 are confirmed dead.
Additionally, Hamas holds the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, along with Israeli civilians Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who voluntarily entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
