CAIRO/GAZA - The Israeli military acknowledged mistakenly targeting and killing three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, believing them to be a threat. The U.S. has urged Israel to scale down its military campaign, emphasizing the need for precision in targeting Hamas leaders.

Expressing condolences to the victims' families, Israel committed to a transparent investigation into the incident. The military also recovered the bodies of three hostages killed by Hamas. Israel estimates that approximately 20 out of the 130 hostages initially held by Hamas may have lost their lives.

The conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise cross-border attack on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostage-taking. Israel's counterattack has claimed nearly 19,000 lives, according to Gaza health authorities, with concerns about additional casualties under rubble.

Amid intense ground fighting and humanitarian warnings, the U.S. National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, visited Israel, urging a shift from broad military operations to targeted actions against Hamas leaders. While Israel asserted its commitment to eliminating Hamas, the U.S. hinted at disagreements over the timing of de-escalation.

Despite Israel's claims of victory and degradation of Hamas, rocket attacks resumed, with sirens and interceptions reported in Jerusalem. Hamas attributed the rocket attack to protest "Zionist massacres against civilians."

With the majority of Gaza's population displaced, aid agencies warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe. Sullivan's visit preceded Israel's decision to open the Kerem Shalom crossing for increased aid shipments, responding to appeals for expedited deliveries to alleviate mass starvation and disease.

Gaza residents reported another night of intense fighting and bombardment, underscoring the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.