IDF is willing to accept a greater than 0% risk to the hostages in their operations. And that the IDF is in the most challenging combat environment it’s ever been in, arguably. I’m sure they are highly skeptical of groups of young men approaching them even under a white flag. Who knows exactly what happened in the fog of this encounter?

Hamas has hostages to bargain with, and nothing else, except to hope that Israel will bow to international pressure (Hamas will sacrifice every last Palestinian in Gaza to enhance that - one of their primary objectives imo). So, I’m concerned those who witnessed or suffered Hamas’ worst atrocities will never be allowed to bear witness, but I think they’ll protect many of their hostages like gold. It’s all they got.