A recent IDF inquiry reveals operational failings behind the deaths of 15 medical workers in Gaza, attributing the incident to a "breach of orders" and prompting disciplinary actions against military personnel.
IDF Inquiry Attributes Gaza Medic Killings to Operational Errors
IDF Inquiry Attributes Gaza Medic Killings to Operational Errors
An internal investigation finds that a "misunderstanding" led to the deaths of emergency workers in Gaza.
The Israeli military has concluded that an "operational misunderstanding" combined with a "breach of orders" resulted in the deaths of 15 emergency personnel in Gaza last month. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an inquiry into the incident, which identified a series of errors leading to the tragedy. As a result, the deputy commander of the involved unit has been dismissed for providing an inaccurate report during the debriefing.
On March 23, a convoy of ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a UN vehicle, and a fire truck came under fire from Israeli troops, leading to the fatalities of 14 emergency responders and a UN worker. The IDF stated that its forces opened fire believing they were facing enemy threats and claimed that six of the victims were affiliated with Hamas. However, no substantial evidence was provided to support this claim, despite the identities of the deceased being publicly known.
The investigation revealed that the incident occurred in a "hostile and dangerous combat zone," where a commander on the ground perceived an imminent threat from rapidly approaching vehicles, leading to the tragic misidentification. Initially, Israeli sources claimed vehicles approached "suspiciously," lacking headlights or emergency signals. This narrative was later recanted after video footage, retrieved from a slain paramedic's phone, demonstrated that the vehicles were equipped with activated lights and reflecting emergency signals.
The video displays a sequence where emergency vehicles stop on the road before gunfire erupts at dawn, along with the sound of the medic offering final prayers while Israeli soldiers are heard approaching. In the aftermath of the shooting, the bodies of the deceased workers remained concealed in sand, not recovered until a week later due to safety concerns preventing international agencies, including the UN, from securing safe access to the area.
Multiple humanitarian organizations, including the Red Crescent, have called for an independent investigation into the incident. The IDF’s actions of terminating and disciplining military personnel are not unprecedented; similar measures were taken following the deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen last April.
Amidst ongoing conflicts, Israel continues its military operations against Hamas, following a surge in violence that has resulted in over 51,000 fatalities in Gaza since hostilities escalated on October 7, 2023.
