An investigation into the tragic killings of 15 Palestinian medics by Israeli forces in Gaza last month has identified significant “professional failures” within the military. A deputy commander, who believed the medics’ ambulances were affiliated with Hamas due to poor visibility at night, is set to face dismissal as a result of the findings.
Details of the incident and subsequent investigation
The investigation revealed that the medics were shot due to an “operational misunderstanding” by the Israeli troops. Furthermore, in a separate but related incident just 15 minutes later, soldiers fired upon a Palestinian UN vehicle, violating standing orders. The shooting, which occurred before dawn on March 23, resulted in the deaths of eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defence workers, and one UN staff member while they were performing their humanitarian duties in Tel al-Sultan, a district in southern Rafah.
Initially, Israeli officials claimed that the medics’ vehicles lacked emergency signals when the firing commenced. However, this narrative was later contradicted by cellphone footage from one of the medics, which showed the ambulances with their lights flashing and identifying logos as they approached another ambulance that had previously come under fire. The video evidenced that the medics were operating in a non-threatening manner when they emerged from their vehicles, only to be met with a sustained barrage of gunfire.
Aftermath and broader implications
The investigation disclosed that the deputy commander was the first to open fire, followed by the other soldiers joining in. After the shooting, the bodies of the victims and their severely damaged vehicles were bulldozed and buried in a mass grave, an action described by Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, as a deliberate act. While the military’s investigation deemed the decision to crush the ambulances regrettable, it maintained that there was no evidence to support claims of execution or that the deceased individuals had been bound before or after the incident.
Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, who leads the military’s investigative branch, explained that the act of removing the bodies was done to clear the road for a potential evacuation route later that day. Rescue workers from the UN were only able to access the site a week later, having received instructions from the Israeli military on how to locate the bodies.
The report concluded that among those killed, six individuals were identified as Hamas members, with previous assertions claiming that nine were militants. It expressed regret over the collateral damage inflicted on civilians.
The sole survivor of the incident remains in custody for further questioning. This event is not isolated, as Israel has faced repeated accusations of endangering emergency and humanitarian workers throughout the ongoing conflict. According to the UN, over 150 emergency responders from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense have lost their lives due to Israeli strikes, the majority while fulfilling their duties.
Internationally, Israel is currently under scrutiny, as the International Criminal Court has charged former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with war crimes. Though Israel is not a member of the ICC, it asserts that its own legal system is competent in addressing military conduct, while Netanyahu has accused the ICC of harboring anti-Semitic motives.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, primarily among civilians, along with the abduction of 251 individuals. While many hostages have been released during ceasefire negotiations, Hamas currently retains 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive.
As the conflict continues, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 51,000 Palestinians have died due to Israel’s military operations, with a significant portion being women and children. The UN has verified that women and children constitute over two-thirds of all confirmed fatalities.