The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that an “operational misunderstanding” and a “breach of orders” were responsible for the tragic deaths of 15 emergency workers in Gaza last month. An internal investigation conducted by the IDF uncovered multiple failings that contributed to this devastating incident.
Details of the Incident
On March 23, a convoy consisting of ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a United Nations vehicle, and a fire truck came under fire from Israeli military forces. The attack resulted in the death of 14 emergency workers alongside a UN staff member.
According to the IDF, troops opened fire under the belief that they were confronting a threat from hostile forces. The inquiry determined that six of the casualties were affiliated with Hamas, but the IDF refuted claims of summary executions. However, no concrete evidence was presented to confirm these affiliations, even though the identities of the deceased were publicly available.
Investigation Findings
The report characterized the incident as occurring in a “hostile and dangerous combat zone” where the on-site commander perceived an immediate threat as vehicles approached at high speed. The IDF cited “poor night visibility” as a factor that led to the misidentification of the vehicles as ambulances.
Initially, Israel asserted that troops fired upon the convoy because it moved suspiciously in darkness without headlights or emergency lights, claiming that the movements of the vehicles had not been coordinated with the military. However, this narrative was later amended when a video retrieved from the phone of one of the deceased medics showed the vehicles with their lights on and emergency signals activated at the time the shooting commenced.
“The footage shows the vehicles pulling up on the road when shooting begins just before dawn,” the report noted, capturing the last moments of the paramedic as he recited his final prayers.
The video, which lasted over five minutes, revealed the paramedics wearing reflective uniforms and the vehicles clearly marked as emergency response units. The bodies of the deceased workers remained buried in sand for a week due to the inability of international agencies, including the UN, to secure safe access to the site.
Additionally, the IDF confirmed the detention of a PRCS medic following the incident, although they did not release the individual’s name. The International Committee of the Red Cross has identified him as Assad al-Nassasra.
Demands for an independent investigation into the incident have been expressed by the Red Crescent and several international organizations. The IDF’s disciplinary actions, including the dismissal of a commander and reprimands for another senior officer, mirror previous responses to similar incidents, such as the killing of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in April of last year.
In the broader context, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have escalated since a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. Since then, at least 51,201 people have lost their lives in Gaza, according to figures released by the Hamas-run health ministry.