IDF: Hostages Likely Escaped Amid Gaza Operations

By Yoni Weiss

Following the accidental killing of three hostages by IDF forces in the Gaza Strip, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in his briefing on Motzoei Shabbos that, “IDF representatives presented the findings to the families of the deceased, and the entire IDF bows its head and embraces the families. We will continue to investigate the incident thoroughly. We are in the midst of a war that presents us with very difficult situations we have not yet faced.”

Hagari said that “Army spokesperson says “we may have more such opportunities” to rescue hostages in the future.

Meanwhile, he added that IDF forces found weapons concealed in incubators inside a Gaza Strip medical center, highlighting the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Palestinian terrorist groups.

The IDF reported that Officer (res.) Yechezkel Azaria, Hy”d, 53, of the 8th Armored Brigade’s 129th Battalion, from Petach Tikva was killed in a drone attack near the northern community of Margaliot near the Lebanon border.

According to the statement, two servicemembers, from the Alexandroni Brigade’s 6609th Reconnaissance Battalion, sustained minor and serious injuries in the attack.

Furthermore, an officer of the 7016th Battalion of the 4th Armored Brigade, was seriously wounded in action in the southern Gaza Strip.

This came hours after incoming rocket attack sirens sounded multiple times over several minutes in northern Israeli communities along the Lebanon border.

The IDF said that three launches from Lebanese territory toward Israel were identified. All rockets fell in unpopulated areas and air defenses were not activated. The army responded with artillery fire toward the source of the launches.

Furthermore, the IDF struck several suspects identified in an “area in Lebanon known to belong to Hezbollah.”