An Israeli military investigation has concluded that there were “professional failures” leading to the deaths of 15 Palestinian medics in Gaza last month. The investigation, which looked into the incident that occurred on March 23, found that a deputy commander would be dismissed as a result.
Initially, Israel claimed that the ambulances involved did not have emergency signals when they were fired upon. However, this claim was later contradicted by cellphone footage from one of the medics. The video showed that the ambulances had their lights flashing and were clearly marked as they approached another ambulance that had come under fire.
The investigation revealed that the deputy battalion commander misjudged the situation due to poor visibility at night, mistakenly believing the ambulances were associated with Hamas militants. Footage from the scene indicated that the medics were not acting aggressively as they exited their vehicles. They were quickly met with gunfire that lasted for over five minutes.
Among those killed were eight members of the Red Crescent, six Civil Defense workers, and a U.N. staff member. After the shooting, Israeli troops bulldozed the bodies and vehicles, burying them in a mass grave. It took a week for U.N. and rescue teams to access the site and recover the remains. The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that the medics were “targeted at close range.”
The Israeli military’s report stated that there was no evidence of execution or that the deceased were bound before or after the shooting. It attributed the deaths to an “operational misunderstanding” and noted that another incident shortly after, where Israeli soldiers shot at a Palestinian U.N. vehicle, was a violation of orders.
The military investigation found that six of the deceased were identified as Hamas members, while others were initially misidentified. The Civil Defense organization is part of the Hamas-run government.
Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, who oversaw the investigation, acknowledged that the decision to bury the bodies was incorrect but insisted there was no attempt to hide what happened. He explained that the military wanted to clear the area for an evacuation route.
Israel has accused Hamas of using ambulances to transport fighters, a claim that medical personnel largely dispute. The Israeli military stated that it has been investigating 421 incidents related to the ongoing conflict, with some cases already sent to the Military Advocate General for potential legal action.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with over 51,000 Palestinians reported killed, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war began on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread destruction and displacement affecting nearly the entire population. As frustrations grow among both Palestinians and Israelis, public protests have emerged, calling for a resolution to the ongoing conflict and the release of hostages held by Hamas.