Investigation Results on Gaza Tragedy: Causes of Death for 15 Rescuers Revealed

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that the deaths of 15 emergency workers and one UN staff member near the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip last month were caused by an “operational misunderstanding” and a military unit’s failure to follow orders.

According to the IDF’s internal investigation, Israeli forces committed a series of serious mistakes that led to the tragedy. The deputy commander of the involved military unit was dismissed for providing a false and incomplete report during the legal proceedings.

The tragedy occurred on March 23. At that time, ambulances belonging to the Palestinian branch of the Red Crescent Society, UN transport vehicles, and a fire truck from Gaza’s civil defense were fired upon by Israeli soldiers. As a result, 14 rescuers and one UN staff member were killed.

The IDF stated that soldiers opened fire, having assessed the vehicles as a potential enemy threat. During the investigation, it was also claimed that six of the victims were Hamas members. However, Israel did not provide any evidence to support this claim, despite the identities of the victims being publicly known.

The report further notes that the incident occurred in a combat zone under enemy control, and the commander perceived the approaching vehicles as a threat. Additionally, it was emphasized that due to the darkness of night, the commander failed to recognize the vehicles as ambulances.

After the incident, Israeli forces initially claimed that the vehicles were moving without headlights or flashing lights, which raised suspicion. However, a video later found on the mobile phone of one of the deceased medics contradicted this — it clearly showed that the vehicles had headlights and emergency beacons turned on.

The video also clearly indicated the vehicles’ affiliation with emergency services, and the paramedics were wearing high-visibility reflective uniforms. In the five-minute footage, the final moments of a rescuer's life are captured, including his prayer and the voices of Israeli soldiers that follow.

The bodies of the 15 victims were only recovered a week after the incident. International organizations, including the UN, cited difficulties in securing safe access as the reason for the delay.

The Red Crescent and other international organizations are demanding an independent investigation into the incident.

This is not the first time the Israeli military has taken action against high-ranking officers. In April last year, two officers were dismissed in connection with the deaths of workers from the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen.

Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Rafah in May 2024, resulting in widespread destruction. After a temporary truce in January, thousands of residents returned to the city. However, following the failure of ceasefire negotiations on March 18, Israel resumed its operations in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 51,201 people have been killed since the clashes began on October 7, 2023. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!