Israeli army admits deadly mistake in Gaza ambulance attack
The Israeli army admitted to a mistake that cost the lives of 15 rescuers, medics, and aid workers, BBC reported on Sunday. Soldiers fired on a convoy of ambulances in the Gaza Strip. "The New York Times" revealed shocking footage from the phone of a killed medic.
What you need to know
- When and where did the incident happen? March 23 near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers fired on an ambulance convoy.
- Why was fire opened? The Israeli army initially claimed that the convoy was approaching without lights.
- 15 medics were killed, and international organizations are demanding an independent investigation.
Initially, the Israeli side claimed that the vehicles were approaching in darkness without lights, which was perceived as a threat, hence the soldiers opened fire. However, footage published by "The New York Times" clearly contradicts this. The video does not indicate that Israeli soldiers warned in any way that they would shoot at the medics.
Israel fired on an ambulance convoy
According to "The New York Times", the disturbing footage recovered from the phone of a medic — who was found at the end of March in a mass grave in Gaza alongside 14 other aid workers — shows that the ambulances and a fire truck they were using were visibly marked and had their lights on when Israeli soldiers opened fire on them with rifles.
According to reports, Israeli soldiers pulled one of the medics from the car, handcuffed him, and shot him at close range. An Israeli army representative denied this.
The bodies of 15 rescuers, medics, and humanitarian organization workers were buried. The bodies and ambulances were revealed a week later—after international organizations, including the UN, demanded information about the shooting.
The Israeli army finally admitted that the firing on the convoy of Palestinian Red Crescent, UN, and fire trucks was a mistake. An Israeli army representative denied that the medics had ties to Hamas, despite earlier accusations.
The only survivor, Munther Abed, confirmed in a conversation with the BBC that the ambulances were marked and denied any ties to Hamas. After the shooting, soldiers pulled him from the car and transported him with blindfolds to a place where he was interrogated for 15 hours.
The army announced a thorough investigation of the matter. Many international organizations, including the Palestinian Red Crescent, are demanding an independent investigation.
