Gaza: Israel Admits ‘Professional Failures’ In Killing Of 15 Palestinian Medics
Israel has acknowledged “professional failures” in a deadly military operation in Gaza that resulted in the death of 15 Palestinian emergency workers, including medics and a U.N. staff member.
A military investigation concluded that an Israeli deputy battalion commander on March 23 misidentified ambulances as hostile vehicles in poor night visibility, leading to the attack in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan district.
Initially, Israeli authorities claimed the vehicles lacked emergency signals, but later retracted the statement after cellphone footage from one of the victims revealed flashing lights and visible medical logos.
Video showed medics calmly approaching a previously attacked ambulance before coming under prolonged gunfire that lasted over five minutes.
The victims included eight Palestinian Red Crescent staff, six Civil Defense workers, and one United Nations employee.
Following the attack, Israeli troops reportedly evacuated the bodies and ambulances, burying them in a mass grave. It took rescue teams a week to recover the remains.
The investigation revealed that the attack was due to an “operational misunderstanding” and admitted that the destruction of the ambulances was unjustified.
However, it denied any deliberate attempt to hide the event or that the victims were executed or bound. One medic survived and remains in Israeli custody.
The report also noted a separate violation in which Israeli forces opened fire on a U.N. vehicle minutes after the initial incident.
There is no confirmation whether any of the victims were members of Hamas, despite Israel’s earlier claims that nine of them were militants.
The findings have been forwarded to Israel’s Military Advocate General, who will determine whether charges are needed. There are no international investigations currently underway.
Israel has long accused Hamas of using ambulances and civilian infrastructure to transport fighters, a claim denied by medical organizations.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.
Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, with 24 of them believed to be alive.
Israel’s offensive efforts in Gaza have since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. Around 90% of the population is displaced, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed buildings.
Gaza: Israel Admits ‘Professional Failures’ In Killing Of 15 Palestinian Medics is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
