The Israeli military has conceded that its soldiers erred in the shooting of 15 emergency medical workers in Gaza, while continuing to assert connections to Hamas. Mobile footage contradicts previous claims, leading to calls for an independent inquiry.
Israel Acknowledges Errors in Fatal Ambulance Shooting Incident in Gaza
Israel Acknowledges Errors in Fatal Ambulance Shooting Incident in Gaza
Admission of error comes following evidence showing paramedics were marked and unarmed during incident.
In a significant development, the Israeli army has admitted to mistakes made during a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency medical workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in southern Gaza on March 23. The army has attributed some of the mistakes to alleged links between these workers and Hamas.
The shooting occurred when a convoy comprising ambulances from the PRCS, a UN vehicle, and a fire truck came under fire near Rafah. Initially, Israeli forces described the convoy as having approached "suspiciously" in the dark without proper lights. However, newly surfaced mobile phone footage from one of the deceased paramedics challenges this narrative, showing that the vehicles were indeed equipped with lights as they rushed to assist wounded individuals.
The footage aired by the New York Times captures the moment the convoy came under gunfire shortly before dawn. In the footage, the last words of the paramedic, identified as Refat Radwan, can be heard as he offers prayers. An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson stated that, prior to the shooting, soldiers had fired upon a vehicle carrying three Hamas operatives. As the ambulances closed in to help, aerial units informed ground troops of the "suspicious advancing convoy."
Despite this, it has been confirmed that the medical team was unarmed, leading to questions about the justification for the shooting. The IDF has since retracted earlier statements claiming the ambulances lacked proper lighting, attributing those inaccuracies to mistaking reports from soldiers on the scene. The video evidence demonstrates that the vehicles were clearly marked and that the paramedics donned high-visibility uniforms.
The bodies of the deceased paramedics were buried in sand by soldiers to shield them from wildlife, with their remains only being discovered a week later due to safety concerns hindering international efforts. A surviving medic has also refuted any claims linking his fellow workers to Hamas, reinforcing the demand for an independent investigation into the incident.
The IDF announced a commitment to thoroughly investigate what transpired, emphasizing the necessity of understanding the events that unfolded. Humanitarian organizations, including the Red Crescent, are vocally advocating for an impartial inquiry into the actions of Israeli forces during this tragic event.
