Israeli captives mistakenly killed in Gaza held white flag, official says

Three Israeli hostages killed mistakenly in Gaza by Israeli forces were shirtless and one of them was holding up a white flag, according to an initial inquiry into the incident, a military official has said.

The incident took place in an area of intense combat where Hamas fighters operate in civilian attire and use deception tactics, the Israeli official said on Saturday.

A soldier saw the hostages emerging tens of metres from Israeli forces in the area of Shujayea, the official added.