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Palestine Red Crescent Society Demands Inquiry into Gaza Paramedic Deaths
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is calling for a thorough international probe into the fatalities of 15 aid workers in southern Gaza. The organization contends that Israeli forces were responsible for the deaths of these emergency responders.
Video Evidence and War Crime Allegations
PRCS publicized the complete video recovered from the mobile phone of one of the eight paramedics who perished when troops fired upon a convoy of ambulances on March 23. The organization asserts this incident constitutes a “full-fledged war crime” and is seeking accountability for those responsible.
Israeli Military’s Initial Findings
The Israeli military stated on Monday that a preliminary investigation indicated soldiers “opened fire due to a perceived threat following a prior encounter in the area.” They claimed that “six of the individuals killed in the incident were identified as Hamas terrorists,” though no evidence was presented to support this claim.
However, a Red Crescent paramedic who survived the attack has refuted the allegations that his colleagues had links to any armed groups.
Conflicting Accounts and Revised Statements
Initially, the Israeli military stated its forces fired on “suspicious vehicles” operating without lights. Subsequently, on Saturday, they acknowledged that their initial account was “mistaken.” This admission came after the release of the final portion of the paramedic’s video, which clearly showed the convoy using its emergency lights.
Recovery of the Deceased
The remains of the eight Red Crescent paramedics, along with six Civil Defence first responders and one UN staff member, were retrieved from a shallow grave. This recovery occurred a week after their deaths after the UN successfully negotiated safe passage to the location.
Paramedic’s Video Captures the Attack
The 18-minute video, released on Monday, was recorded by paramedic Rifaat Radwan. The footage begins with Radwan conversing with his colleague Asaad al-Nassasra – whose current status is unknown – as their ambulance travels along an unlit road at night.
A second ambulance then approaches from the opposite direction. Following a discussion with its driver, Radwan and Nassasra decide to join them, forming a convoy.
Later in the video, a fire engine and a third ambulance – all with clearly visible flashing emergency lights – are seen overtaking Radwan’s vehicle shortly before they reach a van on the roadside.
Escalation and Final Prayers
The emergency vehicles stop, and the sound of gunfire erupts just as Radwan exits his ambulance. The shooting persists for over five minutes. During this time, Radwan is heard reciting his final prayers, shortly before the voices of Israeli soldiers are heard approaching.
PRCS Accuses Israel of Deliberate Attacks
The Red Crescent stated on Wednesday that the video evidence demonstrated “this was neither a random incident nor an individual error, but rather a series of premeditated attacks.”
The PRCS detailed the sequence of events as indicating deliberate targeting:
- “The first was the shooting of an ambulance en route to evacuate casualties after a home was bombed in the al-Hashashin area.”
- “This was followed by a direct attack on the PRCS and Civil Defence ambulance convoy – despite the team following all safety protocols.”
- “And then by the targeting of a fourth ambulance that was heading to support the others,” they added.
The society insisted that the area was not designated as a “red zone” by the Israeli military, meaning no prior co-ordination was required for access. They also stated that the video footage showed no Israeli military vehicles present in the vicinity.
Forensic Evidence of Deliberate Killings
Furthermore, the PRCS stated that preliminary forensic reports indicated the medics died from “multiple gunshot wounds to the upper parts of the bodies,” which they described as “further evidence of deliberate killing.”
Call for Justice and Accountability
At a news conference in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the society’s president, Dr Younes al-Khatib, reiterated the call for an independent international investigation into the incident. He demanded that those responsible be held accountable for their actions.
“We will pursue this issue to its conclusion. For us, these 15 men represent all those who were killed while striving to save lives, for the sake of humanity,” he stated.
“Justice was not served for them. We hope that this time, through these 15 men, we can achieve justice.”
Rejection of Israeli Military Inquiry
Khatib dismissed the Israeli military’s inquiry, stating that the society did not “trust” it to provide comprehensive answers about the events, citing “previous experience.”
He also rejected the military’s accusation that Hamas operatives were among the deceased. He asserted that the military had failed “to prove even once in 50 years that the Red Crescent or its crew carry or use weapons.”
IDF to Conduct Further Investigation
Later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement indicating that its Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, had been presented with the initial findings of the inquiry into the incident. He instructed that the investigation be “pursued in greater depth and completed in the coming days by the general staff investigation mechanism.”
“All the claims raised regarding the incident will be examined through this mechanism and presented in a detailed and thorough manner for a decision on how to address the event,” the IDF statement added.
Context of the Conflict
The Israeli military initiated a campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. During this attack, approximately 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 251 were taken hostage.
Tragically, since then, more than 50,750 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.