3 hostages were likely mistakenly killed in military airstrike, IDF investigation confirms

Three Israeli hostages, whose bodies were found last year in underground tunnels in Gaza, were likely killed in a military airstrike.

Three Israeli hostages, whose bodies were found last year in underground tunnels in Gaza, were most likely killed in a military airstrike aimed at a Hamas commander, an investigation into their deaths concluded.

An investigation into the deaths of Nik Beizer, 19, Ron Sherman, 19, and Elia Toledano, 28, found there was a "high probability" that the hostages were killed "as a result of a byproduct of an IDF airstrike" targeting Hamas Northern Brigade commander Ahmed Ghandour, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday. The three hostages were being held in a tunnel where Ghandour was operating when the military struck on Nov. 10, according to the IDF. Their bodies were found in a Hamas tunnel complex on Dec. 14, and the investigation into their deaths concluded in recent days.

"At the time of the strike, the IDF did not have information about the presence of hostages in the targeted compound," the military said.

The IDF said that it was a "high probability" assessment but that it was "not possible to definitively determine" the cause of the three hostages' deaths. Its assessment is based on a number of factors, including intelligence reports, the location of where their bodies were found, an analysis of the strike and conclusions from the Forensic Medicine Institute.

"The IDF shares in the grief of the families over the devastating loss and will continue to accompany them," the IDF added.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/3-hostages-likely-mistakenly-killed-idf-airstrike-rcna171197

---