The Israeli military has revised its account of the killing of 15 emergency workers near Rafah, Gaza, on March 23, as investigations continue. The paramedics and responders were shot dead and buried in a shallow grave, which was discovered a week later by United Nations officials and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Another emergency worker remains missing.
The military initially stated that soldiers fired on vehicles approaching their position “suspiciously” in the dark without lights or markings. They claimed to have killed nine militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad who were traveling in Palestinian Red Crescent vehicles. However, video evidence from a phone recovered from one of the deceased, published by the Palestinian Red Crescent, showed uniformed emergency workers and clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with lights on, being fired upon. Munther Abed, the sole survivor and a paramedic, also stated that soldiers targeted emergency vehicles.
An Israeli military official acknowledged the video and confirmed investigators were examining it, with findings expected to be presented to army commanders. The official maintained that some of the deceased were identified as militants but declined to provide evidence, citing classified information. He emphasized that troops believed they were engaging with terrorists and denied allegations of mistreatment or close-range executions.
The UN and Palestinian Red Crescent officials have called for an independent inquiry into the incident. Red Crescent representatives reported that 17 emergency workers had been dispatched to respond to injuries from Israeli airstrikes. Apart from Abed, another worker remains unaccounted for.
According to initial findings, troops fired on a vehicle at 4 a.m., killing two members of Hamas’ internal security forces and capturing another individual. Later, at 6 a.m., troops reportedly received aerial surveillance indicating a suspicious convoy and opened fire again. The military claimed the troops acted from a distance and informed the UN of the incident.
The military explained that the bodies were initially covered with camouflage netting and later with sand to protect them from animals. However, questions remain about why the vehicles were crushed and buried by heavy machinery. UN officials have not yet commented on the military’s claims. The incident has intensified calls for accountability and transparency from international organizations.
