The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on Sunday that an internal inquiry into the tragic deaths of 15 humanitarian and medical workers in Gaza has uncovered “several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident.” This admission comes amid heightened international scrutiny following the killing of the aid workers and the mismanagement of their remains.
Incident details and international reaction
On March 23, the Israeli military faced severe backlash from global leaders after the 15 humanitarian workers and medics were killed. Reports indicate that their bodies were initially buried in shallow graves and that the details surrounding the incident were inaccurately communicated in the aftermath. The victims’ bodies were discovered a week later by United Nations personnel and members of the Palestinian Red Crescent.
While the IDF expressed regret for the harm inflicted on uninvolved civilians, it maintained that its soldiers were executing a “vital mission” aimed at Hamas terrorists. The military reiterated its stance that Hamas exploits medical and humanitarian resources, alleging that ambulances are utilized to transport both terrorists and weapons.
Revised military account and consequences
The report highlights that there was no intention to conceal the incident, despite acknowledging that soldiers had buried the bodies and crushed the ambulances involved. The military initially claimed that troops opened fire on vehicles lacking lights or markings approaching in the dark. However, this narrative shifted after a video retrieved from the mobile phone of one of the deceased revealed clearly marked ambulances with their lights on.
In its revised account, the IDF stated that troops opened fire on “suspects” exiting a fire truck and ambulances, perceiving an immediate threat. The report indicated that due to poor visibility at night, the deputy commander did not initially recognize the approaching vehicles as ambulances. Only after the vehicles were closer did it become evident that they were indeed part of a rescue operation.
Additionally, shortly after the tragic incident, IDF troops mistakenly targeted a UN vehicle—an operational error attributed to a breach of orders during combat. Of the 15 victims, the report identified six as members of Hamas, which has further complicated the narrative surrounding the incident.
Following the investigation’s findings, one deputy commander is set to be dismissed, while another commanding officer will face disciplinary action.