AFTER denials for months, the Israeli military says there is a “high probability” its air strike was responsible for the deaths of three Israeli captives in Gaza in November.
The military on Sunday said it was unaware the captives were present in a tunnel in the Palestinian territory when they launched the attack on November 10, 2023.
The bodies of the three captives – Corporal Nik Beizer, Sergeant Ron Sherman and French-Israeli national Elia Toledano – were recovered on December 14. But the cause of death was not determined.
“The findings of the investigation suggest a high probability that the three were killed as a result of a byproduct of an [Israeli army] air strike, during the elimination of the Hamas Northern Brigade commander, Ahmed Ghandour, on November 10th, 2023,” the military said in a statement.
The military said its investigation revealed that the three captives had been held in a tunnel complex from which Ghandour operated.
“At the time of the strike, the [army] did not have information about the presence of hostages in the targeted compound,” the military statement said.
“Furthermore, there was information suggesting that they were located elsewhere, and thus the area was not designated as one with suspected presence of hostages.”
The three captives were among about 250 people kidnapped by the Palestinian group Hamas in its October 7 attack inside the Israeli territory. About 100 of them are still believed to be in Gaza.
In its report, the army said “it is not possible to definitely determine the circumstances of their deaths”.
The military’s conclusions could add further pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to strike a deal to bring home the remaining captives held by Hamas.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hamdah Salhut said the Israeli army’s admission could be “an embarrassment” for the government. Salhut was reporting from Amman, Jordan because Al Jazeera has been banned by Israel.
