Iris Haim, mother of the late Yotam Haim, who was tragically killed at age 28 by the Israel Defense Forces in a misidentification incident, expressed her profound forgiveness towards the soldiers involved. In a heartfelt message delivered to Israel’s Channel 12, she addressed the Bislach Brigade, battalion 17, directly.
Iris said, “This is Iris Haim, Yotam’s mother. I want to express my deep love and support for all of you. I firmly believe that the unfortunate incident was not your fault, and the blame lies solely with Hamas. My family and I hold no resentment towards you – our hearts are filled with understanding and love.
“Your safety is paramount to us, and we trust in your actions to protect the Jewish community. Please don’t second-guess yourselves in the face of danger. We welcome you to visit us; we eagerly await the chance to meet you, embrace you, and reassure you that your actions, though painful, were necessary under the circumstances. You have our complete support and affection.”
Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating that Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, 26, and Samar Fouad Talalka, 24, made significant efforts to not pose any threat to the forces. Unfortunately, due to the complex and tense situation in a Gaza City neighborhood known for frequent clashes and hazards like booby traps, the troops mistakenly identified and fatally shot them.
The Times of Israel reported an investigation revealing that crucial information about banners the hostages had hung for assistance went unnoticed by the IDF soldiers. A sniper, not recognizing their white flag, made the fatal shots. Additionally, Breitbart disclosed that an IDF dog recorded audio of the hostages calling for help, but this evidence was only reviewed after their deaths.
