Israel Acknowledges 'Professional Failures' in Gaza Attack That Claimed Lives of 15 Medics
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Synopsis
The Israeli military has recognized a series of 'professional failures' leading to the deaths of 15 emergency responders, including members from various humanitarian organizations, following an internal investigation into the incident in southern Gaza.
Key Takeaways
- The Israeli military admitted to operational errors.
- 15 emergency responders were killed in the attack.
- Video evidence contradicted initial claims about vehicle markings.
- Troops faced disciplinary actions for the incident.
- The investigation is overseen by Israel's attorney general.
Jerusalem, April 21 (NationPress) The Israeli military acknowledged a sequence of “professional failures” that led to the deaths of 15 emergency responders in southern Gaza last month, which included members from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Civil Defence teams, and a United Nations employee.
The results were published on Sunday after an internal review by the General Staff Fact-Finding Mechanism. The inquiry determined that the soldiers involved did not engage in “indiscriminate fire,” but recognized significant operational and procedural missteps, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
According to the investigation, the tragic event took place before dawn on March 23 in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah. Israeli forces mistakenly identified emergency vehicles as Hamas assets due to “poor night visibility.” A deputy commander reportedly failed to identify the vehicles as ambulances and deemed them hostile. Shortly thereafter, troops opened fire on a UN-marked vehicle, which the military attributed to “operational errors in violation of regulations.”
The review indicated that eight Red Crescent staff, six Civil Defence members, and a UN employee lost their lives in the shooting. Video evidence later contradicted initial Israeli assertions that the vehicles lacked emergency identifiers.
Footage revealed ambulances with flashing lights and visible logos as medics approached another ambulance that had previously been targeted. The responders showed no hostile actions yet faced sustained gunfire lasting over five minutes.
After the shooting, Israeli troops utilized bulldozers to bury both the bodies and vehicles. Rescue teams and UN personnel could only reach the site around a week later to recover the remains.
The military announced that the deputy commander responsible for initiating the shooting and delivering an “incomplete and inaccurate report” during the debriefing would be terminated. A senior commander will also face disciplinary actions for his handling of the incident.
While the investigation admitted that crushing the ambulances was a blunder, Yoav Har-Even, who heads the military’s investigative division, stated that this action was taken to facilitate road clearance for evacuation later that day. He denied any intention to obscure the incident.
The inquiry also dismissed accusations that the victims were executed at close range or that they were restrained before or after the shooting. These allegations were made by the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, who claimed the responders had been “targeted at close range.”
The findings of the investigation have been forwarded to the Military Advocate General, who will determine whether to pursue legal actions. The investigative process is officially overseen by Israel’s attorney general and Supreme Court, although no independent international investigations are currently in progress.
The United Nations reports that Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 health workers since the conflict began. The Israeli military has faced criticism for rarely conducting comprehensive investigations into such incidents.
