Israel Says Combat Helicopter Strike Most Likely Killed a Hostage on Oct. 7

A grandmother taken captive through the Oct. 7 assault on Israel most likely was killed when an Israeli helicopter, responding to the Hamas-led assault, fired on the car through which she was being held, Israel’s navy stated on Friday.

The revelation in regards to the abduction of the grandmother, Efrat Katz, 67, got here on the identical day that Israeli navy officers detailed failures that led to lethal airstrikes this week on a convoy of assist staff in Gaza.

Ms. Katz’s kidnapping from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7 was captured on video that confirmed her squashed at the back of a pickup truck alongside together with her daughter and two grandchildren.

The navy stated Friday that an inquiry into air drive actions on Oct. 7 because it responded to the assault discovered that “one of many fight helicopters that took half within the combating fired at a car that had terrorists in it” — and which, “on reflection,” additionally carried hostages.

“Because of the fireplace, many of the terrorists manning the car had been killed, and most probably, Efrat Katz was killed as nicely,” it stated in an announcement summarizing the inquiry’s findings.

The helicopter crew was not discovered to be at fault, the assertion added, as a result of hostages within the car would have been indistinguishable from the terrorists.

“It is a tragic and unlucky occasion that passed off within the midst of combating and situations of uncertainty,” the air drive’s commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, stated.

Ms. Katz’s demise wouldn’t be the primary from pleasant hearth within the battle.

Hamas and different armed Palestinian teams took greater than 200 individuals captive through the Oct. 7 assault. About 100 hostages, most of them ladies and youngsters, had been launched throughout a cease-fire in November, and not less than 30 others are believed to have died in captivity, in response to Israeli officers.

In December, the Israeli navy stated its forces had mistakenly killed three hostages in Gaza. The incident brought on deep anguish in Israel, prompting calls for one more non permanent truce and a deal to permit extra hostages to be launched. However diplomatic efforts to safe one other pause within the combating have been stalled for months, at the same time as requires a cease-fire have mounted.