An Israeli army official said on Saturday that the three prisoners who were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza were raising a white flag, according to a preliminary investigation into the incident.

The official added that the incident occurred in an area of ​​intense combat, where Hamas fighters operate in civilian clothing and use deceptive methods.

He continued, "Shooting at the hostages was in violation of the Israeli rules of engagement."

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it was investigating the circumstances of the "accidental" killing of three detainees in Gaza after its soldiers believed they posed a "threat" in an incident that sparked protests in Tel Aviv.

The army reported that Yotam Haim, Alon Shimrez, and Samer Al-Talalqa, all in their twenties, were shot dead during operations in Gaza City, as Israel continued its aerial bombardment and ground military operations in the besieged Gaza Strip as part of the war that broke out more than two months ago between it and the movement. Hamas.

The three were among those kidnapped by Hamas during the attack it launched on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the killing of 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, the majority of whom died on the first day, in addition to the detention of about 240 prisoners, according to the Israeli authorities.

Israel responded to the worst attack in its history with an air and ground operation on Gaza, and pledged to eliminate the Hamas movement that rules the Strip and return the hostages.

The Hamas government announced, on Friday, that 18,800 Palestinians, about 70% of whom are women and children, have been killed in the Israeli bombing of Gaza since the outbreak of the war.