Recently unearthed video footage appears to contradict Israel's account of a tragic incident involving the deaths of 15 paramedics in Gaza, highlighting calls for an independent investigation and increasing scrutiny on military actions.
New Footage Complicates Israeli Narrative on Gaza Medic Deaths
New Footage Complicates Israeli Narrative on Gaza Medic Deaths
Mobile video evidence suggests inconsistencies in the Israeli military's explanation of a deadly attack that killed 15 emergency responders.
Mobile phone footage released by the New York Times shows a convoy of ambulances and fire trucks in Gaza prior to an attack by Israeli forces that resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency workers on March 23. The video, which was filmed by a Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic who was killed in the incident, depicts the marked vehicles traveling with illuminated headlights and emergency flashing lights in the early morning before the attack began.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially claimed the vehicles were "uncoordinated" and advanced suspiciously, prompting them to open fire. However, a surviving paramedic disputed this account during a BBC interview, asserting that the ambulances were clearly marked with their lights activated, presenting no threat to IDF troops.
As the video unfolds, it captures the moments when the vehicles halt, showing emergency workers alighting in reflective gear, all while gunfire erupts. This footage was recovered from the paramedic's phone, which lay with his remains in a shallow grave for a week post-incident. Alongside the 15 deceased, a UN employee was also identified among the dead.
Despite claims from Israel of having targeted Hamas militants during the incident, an official explanation and supporting evidence remain elusive. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reinforced the military’s stance, insisting the IDF did not randomize its attack on an ambulance.
Calls for accountability continue to mount. Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, President of the PRCS, expressed grave concern at the United Nations regarding the footage, recounting the final words of the fallen paramedic, who pleaded for forgiveness as he aimed to assist those in need. He advocated for a thorough and independent investigation into what he called an egregious violation.
Amid heightened tensions, one additional paramedic remains unaccounted for in the aftermath of this tragic event, with global organizations urging a reassessment of the rules governing military engagement in conflict zones.
