Fifteen Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers were killed near Rafah on March 23 when Israeli forces opened fire on their convoy. The vehicles included clearly marked Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulances, a UN car, and a fire truck from Gaza’s Civil Defence.
Video Evidence Contradicts Initial Claims
Israel’s military initially claimed troops opened fire because the convoy approached “suspiciously” without headlights or emergency signals. However, mobile phone footage recovered from deceased paramedic Rifat Radwan directly contradicts this account, showing the vehicles had their lights on and were clearly marked.
IDF Admits Error
An Israeli military official has now acknowledged their initial report was “mistaken,” stating: “What we understand currently is the person who gives the initial account is mistaken. We’re trying to understand why.”
Military Account of Events
According to the revised IDF account, troops had fired on a car allegedly containing Hamas members. When ambulances responded later, aerial surveillance informed soldiers about “suspicious” vehicles approaching, and they opened fire despite no evidence any emergency workers were armed.
Allegations of Militant Connections
The military has claimed that troops identified at least six of the 15 dead as members of militant groups but declined to provide evidence. These allegations have been rejected by both a surviving paramedic and UN officials who previously worked with the same medics.
Burial of Bodies and Vehicles
The IDF official said soldiers buried the bodies in sand to “protect them from wild animals” and later moved and buried the vehicles to clear the road. The bodies remained buried for a week until an aid team discovered the site and Radwan’s mobile phone containing the crucial footage.
Calls for Investigation
The Palestinian Red Crescent and numerous international organizations are demanding an independent investigation into the killings. UN officials stated that evidence indicates emergency crews were killed “one after another” over several hours as they searched for missing colleagues.
Broader Context
The incident occurred shortly after Israel renewed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, following the end of a ceasefire. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 50,600 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.