Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently faced scrutiny after a tragic incident involving the deaths of 15 workers in Gaza. The IDF stated that its troops opened fire because they believed they were under threat from enemy forces. An investigation by the IDF revealed that six of the deceased were members of Hamas, but it did not provide evidence linking the others to the group, despite the names of the victims being publicly known.
The incident occurred in a location described by the IDF as a "hostile and dangerous combat zone." The commander in charge reportedly felt an immediate threat when vehicles approached quickly. Poor visibility at night was cited as a reason for not identifying the vehicles as ambulances. Initially, the IDF claimed the convoy moved suspiciously without headlights or flashing lights, but this account was later corrected. A video found on the phone of a medic who died showed the vehicles with their lights on and emergency signals flashing.
The video captures the moments leading up to the shooting, showing the vehicles clearly marked and the paramedics wearing reflective uniforms. The footage lasts over five minutes and includes the medic’s last prayers before Israeli soldiers are heard approaching.
The bodies of the deceased were buried in sand and were not recovered for a week due to safety concerns for international agencies, including the UN. The Red Crescent and other organizations have called for an independent investigation into what happened.
In response to the incident, the IDF has dismissed one commander and disciplined another officer. This is not the first time the military has taken action following a controversial incident; similar measures were taken after the deaths of aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in April of the previous year.
This incident comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated after a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, that left around 1,200 people dead and many others taken hostage. Since then, the humanitarian toll has been staggering, with reports indicating that at least 51,201 people have died in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The situation remains dire as Israel continues its military operations in the region.