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GAZA TRAGEDY: Israeli Military Admits Errors in Killing of Emergency Responders, Claims Hamas Ties
The Israeli military has acknowledged its soldiers made errors in the fatal shooting of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza on March 23rd. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintains that some of the deceased had connections to Hamas.
Convoy Under Fire Near Rafah
A convoy comprising ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a United Nations vehicle, and a fire engine from Gaza’s Civil Defence was struck by gunfire near Rafah.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
Initially, Israel asserted that its troops opened fire because the convoy approached “suspiciously” in the dark, without headlights or flashing lights. Furthermore, they stated that the movement of these vehicles was not pre-coordinated or approved by the military.
However, mobile phone footage, recorded by one of the paramedics killed in the incident, contradicts this account. The video evidence shows the emergency vehicles clearly displaying lights as they responded to a call to assist injured individuals.
Paramedic’s Footage Reveals Grim Details
The footage, initially disseminated by the New York Times, depicts the vehicles halting on the road and then, without prior indication, gunfire erupting just before sunrise.
The video recording continues for over five minutes, capturing the voice of the paramedic, identified as Refat Radwan, reciting his last prayers before the sounds of approaching Israeli soldiers become audible near the vehicles.
IDF Spokesperson’s Briefing
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson briefed journalists stating that soldiers had previously engaged a vehicle carrying three Hamas operatives.
According to the IDF briefing, when the ambulances responded to the area, aerial surveillance informed ground troops about a convoy “advancing suspiciously”.
Upon the ambulances stopping near the Hamas vehicle, the soldiers reportedly assumed they were under threat and commenced firing, despite no evidence suggesting that any member of the emergency medical team was armed.
Israel has since conceded that its initial statement asserting the vehicles approached without lights was inaccurate, attributing this erroneous report to the soldiers involved in the incident.
The video evidence clearly demonstrates that the vehicles were distinctly marked as ambulances, and the paramedics were wearing high-visibility reflective uniforms.
Burial and Discovery of Evidence
The IDF official stated that soldiers buried the deceased workers’ bodies in sand to protect them from scavengers. He further claimed the vehicles were subsequently moved and buried the following day to clear the roadway.
The bodies remained undiscovered for a week after the incident, as international aid organizations, including the UN, struggled to secure safe passage to the location or pinpoint the precise site.
When an aid team eventually located the burial site, they discovered the bodies and Refat Radwan’s mobile phone, which contained the video footage of the deadly incident.
Hamas Links Claim and Rejection of Misconduct Allegations
The IDF maintains its assertion that at least six of the medics had links to Hamas, but has not yet provided any substantiating evidence. The military acknowledges that the paramedics were unarmed when soldiers opened fire.
The military official refuted allegations that any paramedics were handcuffed before their deaths and denied claims of close-range executions, which had been suggested in some reports.
Eyewitness Testimony and Calls for Investigation
Earlier in the week, a paramedic who survived the attack told the BBC that the ambulances had their lights illuminated and rejected the claims that his colleagues had any affiliation with militant groups.
The IDF has pledged a “thorough examination” of the incident, stating its intention to “understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society and numerous international organizations are advocating for an independent and impartial investigation into the killings of the emergency workers in Gaza.