Israeli soldiers mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat and shot them during combat in Shejaiya, northern Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The incident was confirmed by IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari in a news briefing on Friday.

Hagari stated, “During combat in Shejaiya, the IDF mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. As a result, the troops fired toward them, and they were killed.”

He added, “During searches and checks in the area in which the incident occurred, a suspicion arose over the identities of the deceased. Their bodies were transferred to Israeli territory for examination, after which it was confirmed that they were three Israeli hostages.”

The three hostages were identified as Yotam Haim, kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza by Hamas on October 7; Samer Talalka, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am on the same day; and another male hostage, whose family requested that his name not be published.

The IDF immediately initiated a review of the incident. Hagari explained that the area where the incident occurred had been a site of heavy fighting with terrorists over the past few days, with attacks aimed at misleading Israeli forces.

Hagari expressed deep remorse over the tragic incident, saying, “The IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences. Our national mission is to locate the missing and return all the hostages home.”

At least 18,787 people have been killed and more than 50,000 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since the war began on Oct. 7, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health and the Hamas government media office.