A thorough examination is promised as international calls for an independent investigation grow.
**Israeli Military Acknowledges Errors in Gaza Medic Killings**
**Israeli Military Acknowledges Errors in Gaza Medic Killings**
Israel's army concedes mistakes in the shooting of 15 emergency workers, while asserting some ties to Hamas.
Israel's military has officially acknowledged mistakes related to the killing of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza on March 23, amid claims that some were associated with Hamas. The incident, which involved a convoy of ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a UN vehicle, and a fire truck, occurred near Rafah when these vehicles came under fire.
Initially, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the convoy approached "suspiciously" in the dark without lights. However, reference to mobile phone footage reveals that the ambulances had their lights on as they responded to a plea for assistance with wounded individuals. This footage, captured by one of the slain paramedics, Refat Radwan, shows the vehicles unexpectedly coming under fire shortly before dawn, with Radwan heard reciting his last prayers in the video.
During a recent briefing, an IDF official mentioned that prior to the shooting, the soldiers had fired on a vehicle occupied by three Hamas members. When the ambulances later approached the site, aerial surveillance reportedly informed the ground troops of a "suspicious" advance, leading the soldiers to fear an attack. The official asserted that all the paramedics were unarmed and denied any wrongdoing regarding the treatment of the deceased.
The IDF later admitted that its claim about the convoy not having lights was misleading, attributing this misinformation to the troops stationed at the scene. Video evidence confirms the vehicles were properly marked, and the paramedics were dressed in their reflective uniforms. Following the incident, soldiers temporarily buried the bodies to protect them from animals, with retrieval delayed for nearly a week due to safety concerns for recovery teams.
The military has claimed that at least six of the deceased medics had ties to Hamas but has yet to provide explicit evidence supporting this assertion. A survivor of the incident contradicted the IDF's claims regarding his colleagues' affiliations with militant groups, emphasizing that the ambulances displayed their lights during their response.
In light of these developments, the Red Crescent and various international organizations are calling for an independent investigation into the killings. The IDF has vowed to conduct a comprehensive review to clarify the series of events that transpired, amid growing skepticism about the adequacy of the military's findings.
Initially, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the convoy approached "suspiciously" in the dark without lights. However, reference to mobile phone footage reveals that the ambulances had their lights on as they responded to a plea for assistance with wounded individuals. This footage, captured by one of the slain paramedics, Refat Radwan, shows the vehicles unexpectedly coming under fire shortly before dawn, with Radwan heard reciting his last prayers in the video.
During a recent briefing, an IDF official mentioned that prior to the shooting, the soldiers had fired on a vehicle occupied by three Hamas members. When the ambulances later approached the site, aerial surveillance reportedly informed the ground troops of a "suspicious" advance, leading the soldiers to fear an attack. The official asserted that all the paramedics were unarmed and denied any wrongdoing regarding the treatment of the deceased.
The IDF later admitted that its claim about the convoy not having lights was misleading, attributing this misinformation to the troops stationed at the scene. Video evidence confirms the vehicles were properly marked, and the paramedics were dressed in their reflective uniforms. Following the incident, soldiers temporarily buried the bodies to protect them from animals, with retrieval delayed for nearly a week due to safety concerns for recovery teams.
The military has claimed that at least six of the deceased medics had ties to Hamas but has yet to provide explicit evidence supporting this assertion. A survivor of the incident contradicted the IDF's claims regarding his colleagues' affiliations with militant groups, emphasizing that the ambulances displayed their lights during their response.
In light of these developments, the Red Crescent and various international organizations are calling for an independent investigation into the killings. The IDF has vowed to conduct a comprehensive review to clarify the series of events that transpired, amid growing skepticism about the adequacy of the military's findings.
