Israeli troops on Friday mistakenly shot to death three hostages in a battle-torn neighborhood of Gaza City, and an Israeli strike killed a Palestinian journalist in the south of besieged territory.
The hostages were killed in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah, where troops have been engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas fighters in recent days.
The soldiers "mistakenly" identified the three Israelis as a threat and opened fire on them, said the army's chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
He said it was believed that the three had either fled their captors or been abandoned.
"Perhaps in the last few days, or over the past day, we still don't know all the details, they reached this area," he added.
Hagari said the army expressed "deep sorrow" and was investigating.
