Israeli soldiers operate at the Shajaiya district of Gaza city amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip, Dec. 8, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Yossi Zeliger

Israeli soldiers mistakenly killed three hostages being held in Gaza by the Hamas terror group during combat, according to a military spokesman.

“This is an area where the soldiers encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers,” said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He called the incident a “tragic accident.”

The battle took place in the northern Gaza Strip village of Shejaiya, known as a Hamas stronghold.

Military officials have notified all affected families.

The IDF identified two of the hostages as Yotam Haim, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Am. The third hostage was not named at the family’s request.

All three were kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, when the Palestinian terror group invaded and rampaged across southern Israel, murdering 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 240 hostages.

According to the IDF, Israeli troops mistakenly identified the hostages as a threat and opened fire at them, killing all three.

“After the shooting, during a scan and examination, an immediate suspicion arose regarding the identity of the dead, and their bodies were quickly transferred for examination in Israel, where the hostages were identified,” Hagari said in a statement. “This is a sad and painful event for all of us, and the IDF bears responsibility for everything that happened.”

He noted that shortly after the incident, Israeli forces encountered terrorists nearby, adding that Hamas has tried to lure the IDF into ambushes.

Israel has recently engaged in intense battles with Hamas terrorists, who often wear civilian clothing. Hagari said the military is working to “gather the facts and clarify the details of the incident.”

Asked how the three hostages were able to escape Hamas captivity, Hagari said the military believed they “fled or were abandoned by the terrorists who held them captive.”

Israel said it began reviewing the incident immediately after it happened.

“The IDF emphasizes that this is an active combat zone in which ongoing fighting over the last few days has occurred,” the military posted on X/Twitter. “Immediate lessons from the event have been learned, which have been passed on to all IDF troops in the field. 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.”

More than 100 hostages still remain in Gaza after Hamas released dozens of women, children, and foreigners as part of a temporary ceasefire deal. Some of those in captivity have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli military said it had recovered the bodies of three Israelis — a civilian and two soldiers — who had been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and held in Gaza.