The Israeli military has said that an air raid that it carried out targeted and destroyed a building that housed three hostages who Hamas kidnapped on October 7 during an attack on Israeli territory. In its investigation, the military said the hostages were held in a tunnel that a Hamas commander used. 

 The military claimed that at the time of the strike, they did not know that there were hostages in the destroyed place. ‘No, there was no information suggesting that there were hostages in the said area, and the place was not tagged as a possible hostage area,’ the statement added. 

 These three people were among about 250 that Hamas kidnapped during the invasion of Israel. To this date, at least 100 people are said to be still being held hostage in Gaza. However, according to the Israeli military report, they could not precisely state the exact manner the three captives were killed. 

  Political and Security Impact 

 This discovery has put more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to negotiate with Hamas for the rest of the hostages. According to Israeli reports and pundits, the apology seems to have shifted political awkwardness to the government, which has been accused of poor crisis management. 

 Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, in Amman, said the military breakdown points to several intelligence and operational missteps during the war, including the according to Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut in Amman the military revelations point to a string of intelligence and operational blunders during the war with particular concern to Israeli forces’ treatment of hostages in Gaza. “There are families of captives demanding a deal, fearing exactly this kind of outcome,” Salhut said. 

  Broader Context of the Conflict 

 Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy said that is far from altering the war’s course or Netanyahu’s operations. Levy noted that the casualties underline the inability of military pressure to free the hostages safely, but he reiterated that this does not deter Netanyahu’s supporters. “His support base remains robust, and nothing will shift this from supporting him,” said Levy, as other political groups turn against the president. 

 Concern has also arisen as to whether the Israeli military intentionally killed the hostages or they were killed due to their intentions of the attack. Bishara added that the military’s objective is to free hostages, but they understand that operations connected with Hamas tunnels are hazardous and many hostages might die during such operations. 

The Ongoing War in Gaza 

 The conflict started after Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed more than 1,100 people, mainly civilians, according to the Israelis. In response, Israel began a military operation in Gaza, and up to now, it has killed not less than 41,206 Palestinians the figure according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. 

The war has continued without clearly indicating when it will end since both factions are instances. The disclosure of hostages being the victims of Israeli airstrikes further complicates an already tense scenario.