‘One of the most tragic incidents I’ve ever known’: Gallant says he’s responsible for hostages’ deaths

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says he takes responsibility for the tragic, accidental killing of three hostages in Gaza by IDF troops on Friday.

“As defense minister, I take responsible for everything that happens in the security establishment, and everything that happens in this war, the achievements and the costs, and the severe mistakes. The same is true for the incident yesterday,” says Gallant during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz.

Gallant says he has spoken with all the families of the hostages who were killed, describing the calls as “charged, painful, and difficult, first of all for the families, but also for me personally.

The defense minister notes the complexity of fighting in the Shejaiya district where the incident took place, with Hamas fighters “in every house and every alleyway,” and notes the area is full of booby traps and potential ambushes.

“I have lost commanders and brothers in arms, I have seen a lot of difficult incidents, a lot that were close to me, including friends dying in battle. This is one of the most tragic incidents I have ever known,” says Gallant.

“The price of war is very high. We pay it every day, but when you know that you are on a path  that is just, then you are willing to pay a price until you achieve your entire goal, which here is destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages to their homes.”