Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of an “indescribable tragedy” that plunges “the entire state of Israel into mourning” this evening, after it became known that three hostages were accidentally killed by the army during a battle with Hamas gunmen in Gaza.

The victims are Yotam Haim, a heavy metal band drummer, 28, Samer al Talalka, a Bedouin, 25, and Alon Lulu Shamriz, 26. The first two were abducted from the Nir Am kibbutz and the third from the Kfar Aza kibbutz on October 7, the army said.

The Israeli army expressed its “deepest condolences” to their families, noting that its mission was to locate the missing and return the hostages to their homes.

From Washington, White House spokesman John Kirby called the deaths of the three hostages hit by friendly fire a “tragic mistake.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to draw general conclusions from this incident,” he added.

With today’s three deaths, the number of hostages whose deaths have been confirmed has reached 22. Of the approximately 250 people kidnapped by Hamas and taken to the Gaza Strip, 110 have been released and another 129 remain captive, but there is no word on their fate.

Families of hostages are calling for a ceasefire to free their people, fearing they will be executed by their captors or killed in the fighting. Last week the Israeli army admitted that two soldiers were seriously injured in a botched operation to free hostages. Hamas announced that one hostage, Sahar Baroush, 25, was killed in the operation and released photos of his body. His family confirmed that it was indeed the young man.