**Red Crescent Demands International Probe into Gaza Paramedic Killings**

The organization claims video evidence shows these deaths were systematic and calls for accountability amidst a broader context of violence in the region.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has urged for an independent international investigation into the alleged killing of 15 emergency workers by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. This call was made following the release of a distressing video retrieved from the phone of one of the deceased paramedics, which the PRCS described as emblematic of "a fully fledged war crime." The incident occurred on March 23 when troops reportedly opened fire on an ambulance convoy.

According to the Israeli military, a preliminary inquiry found that troops responded to a perceived threat, asserting that six of those killed were identified as Hamas militants, although no evidence was presented to substantiate these claims. In contrast, a surviving paramedic has vehemently denied any association with armed groups, stating that the medics were solely on a humanitarian mission.

Initially, the military reported that gunfire was directed at "suspicious vehicles." However, after the release of the video, which clearly shows the emergency vehicles using their lights, the Israeli military acknowledged that its first account was incorrect.

The bodies of the eight paramedics, along with six Civil Defence responders and a UN staff member, were found a week later in a shallow grave after the United Nations secured safe passage to the area. The chilling 18-minute footage, filmed by paramedic Rifaat Radwan, documents the moments leading up to the shooting, with scenes of their convoy marked by flashing emergency lights before they were overtaken by gunfire.

The Red Crescent insists that the attack aligns with a pattern of deliberate strikes. They pointed to previous incidents, including an ambush on an ambulance responding to a bombing in the al-Hashashin area. They argued that the area had not been designated as a "red zone," negating the need for military coordination.

Dr. Younes al-Khatib, the president of the PRCS, voiced a strong demand for accountability, stating that justice remains elusive for the victims, whom he sees as representatives of all medics lost in the line of duty. The society expressed skepticism over the efficacy of the Israeli military's internal inquiries based on past experiences, asserting that Israel had failed to provide credible evidence concerning the paramedics' alleged ties to violence.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces noted that its Chief of Staff had ordered a more in-depth examination of the incident, pledging a detailed investigation into the claims.

This tragic event occurs against the backdrop of intensified conflict following a significant cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties. The health ministry in Gaza, run by Hamas, reports over 50,750 deaths in the region since the escalation began.