TEL AVIV, Israel: Israel on Saturday mourned the deaths of three Gaza hostages killed when troops mistook them for a threat, with the military expressing remorse over a "tragic" incident that sparked protests in the western city of Tel Aviv. "During combat in Shejaiya, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat and, as a result, fired toward them and the hostages were killed," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said. "All of Israel is grieving their loss," he said, while the White House called the incident a "tragic mistake." 'More careful'But the hostages' deaths have heightened already fierce scrutiny of how Israel is conducting its ground and air assault on Gaza. Since the war began, a trickle of aid has been squeezed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
