UNITED NATIONS — In an unexpected reversal, the Israeli military has re-evaluated its previous assertion regarding the fatal shooting of 15 Palestinian healthcare workers by its troops, an incident that sparked international concern. Initially, the military claimed the medics’ vehicles lacked emergency lights or other identifiers as they approached Israeli forces, leading to their tragic deaths in the Gaza Strip. However, a recently surfaced phone video contradicts this position, showing the emergency vehicles with lights flashing and logos prominently displayed as they moved to assist an already endangered ambulance.
The military’s official narrative, released by an anonymous Israeli spokesperson, has now been rescinded as a “mistake.” The footage, which captures the slow, deliberate movement of Red Crescent and Civil Defense vehicles, depicts them arriving to aid the initial ambulance that had come under fire. The vehicles and medics, who appear calm and professional, were not engaged in suspicious activities prior to being engulfed in gunfire. The harrowing scene extends for five minutes as the onlookers within the vehicle recite prayers, capturing the fear and desperation of the moment.
Among those killed were eight Red Crescent workers, six Civil Defense personnel, and a United Nations staff member. This tragic event took place during a pre-dawn military operation in Tel al-Sultan, a region in southern Gaza’s Rafah. In a grim aftermath, the bodies alongside the damaged vehicles were buried in a makeshift grave by the military, hindering recovery efforts which only succeeded a week later. A phone containing the documented footage was discovered in the possession of one of the deceased staff members, later exhibited by the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., and obtained by a diplomat.
Munzer Abed, a medic who survived the ordeal, validated the authenticity of the video, stating the incident recorded occurred in the same locale as depicted in additional United Nations footage. Following inquiries, the Israeli military confirmed that they are conducting a comprehensive review of the tragic event.
Younes Al-Khatib, the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, has called for an independent investigation, expressing distrust in the military’s internal inquiries. The organization is also grappling with the unresolved case of Assaad al-Nassasra, a medic reported as missing. Abed recounted witnessing al-Nassasra being captured by Israeli forces.
The controversy extends beyond this incident, as Israel has accused militant groups, like Hamas, of misusing medical vehicles to transport fighters, potentially justifying their attacks. Continually denied by medical personnel, these allegations lack substantiation. As of now, more than 150 emergency responders are reported dead since the outset of associated hostilities, with little accountability from military investigations.
Red Crescent ambulances hastily responded to the crisis just before dawn on March 23. The initial response evacuated casualties unharmed; however, subsequent vehicles were immediately targeted. Abed, a seasoned Red Crescent paramedic, describes the intensity of the attack on their ambulance, which left his colleagues dead and him captured. Subjected to harsh interrogations and mistreatment by Israeli forces, Abed narrowly survived the attack.
The video captured on a civilian’s phone reveals a rescue mission undertaken by emergency workers. Their journey is marked by emergency lights cutting through the night as they reach stranded ambulances. As the teams disembark to assess the situation, gunfire erupts, capturing a stark scene of chaos and fear.
Israeli authorities have justified the severe response by claiming the discovery of Hamas militants, including Mohammed Amin Shobaki, among the casualties. Yet, these claims remain unsubstantiated, with no Hamas affiliation found among the slain medics and no identification of Shobaki among the deceased.
United Nations officials, such as Jonathan Whittall from the humanitarian office OCHA, have dismissed the Israeli military’s claims, affirming the professionalism and dedication of the deceased medics. The legitimacy of the troops’ targets remains heavily scrutinized by international spectators.