During operations in the Gaza Strip, soldiers took notice of a figure waving a white flag in their direction and calling for help.
A Hamas terrorist disguised as a hostage attempted to lure IDF soldiers away into a possible trap on Monday night, N12 reported on Tuesday, citing the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
During operations in the Gaza Strip, soldiers reportedly took notice of a figure waving a white flag in their direction and calling for help. Thinking the figure was a hostage, the soldiers radioed for assistance.
“Extensive searches were conducted,” the military said, as reported by N12. “After no further findings were discovered, it was determined that the incident did not involve hostages but rather, most likely, the enemy.”
IDF soldiers operate in Gaza City, September 17, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Three hostages mistakenly killed by IDF fire
In December 2023, Yotam Chaim, Samer Talalka, and Alon Shamrioz were mistakenly killed by IDF fire in the Gaza Strip after they had managed to flee from Hamas.
The three raised a white flag, cried for help in Hebrew, and kept their upper bodies bare so that no one would suspect they were hiding a bomb under their shirts.
According to an initial probe, the hostages were standing near a building with the words “help” and “SOS” spray-painted on its exterior walls. The IDF had also found a message saying “three hostages – help” on the building two days before the deadly altercation.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
