Relatives Of Hostages From Israel, Desak Netanyahu Stop Attacks In Gaza

Vehicles belonging to the International Red Cross Committee's transportation release the hostages to the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip (ANTARA)

ISTAMBUL - Hen Avigdori, whose daughter and husband were successfully released through a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, on Friday (15/12), requested that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stop the attack on Gaza, according to reports by several media. Avigdori also said it was impossible to save Israeli hostages.

Maariv newspaper released a letter belonging to Avigdori sent to Netanyahu after Israeli soldiers announced that they had accidentally killed three hostages in Gaza.

Avigdori wrote there was no time or military equipment to save the hostages.

Israeli soldiers on Friday admitted that they had 'accidentally' killed three Israeli hostages during fighting in Gaza.

Israeli military spokesman DanielXhi described the incident as "tragistic" and said the military was "responsible", according to the Times of Israel news website.

"This is an area where soldiers (Israel) encounter many terrorists, including suicide bombers," he said.

The two hostages who were killed were named Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka, while another hostage was kept secret at the request of his family.

Netanyahu mourns the deaths of the three hostages, calling it an unbearable tragedy.

"Together with all Israelis, I bow my head and mourn the passing of our three beloved sons who were held hostage," wrote the spokesman at X.

"All of Israel is grieving tonight," he said, adding that there was an "important lesson" learned from the incident.

Israel attacked the Gaza Strip by air and land and launched a siege and launched a counter-attack following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on October 7.

At least 18,800 Palestinians were killed and 51,000 others injured in Israeli aggression, according to Gaza health authorities.

Based on official data, the death toll on the Israeli side reached 1,200 people, while more than 130 hostages were still being held in Gaza.