Gaza aid worker killings forced the Israeli military to revise its March 23 report, admitting likely misidentification near Rafah.
What Happened
Israeli forces gunned down fifteen paramedics and emergency responders and later buried them in a shallow grave. Video footage recovered from the mobile phone of one of the victims, along with eyewitness testimony, contradicted the military’s first claims.
The initial report stated that Israeli soldiers opened fire on unmarked vehicles they believed carried militants. However, video from the Palestinian Red Crescent showed Israeli forces targeting clearly marked ambulances . The fire trucks with emergency lights on.
Ongoing Investigation
Gaza aid worker killings remain under review, as Israeli commanders continue analyzing video footage and operational data. The official cited a mistaken initial field report and rejected claims that soldiers executed aid workers at close range.
Despite this, Israeli media reports—citing military sources—claimed that six of the 15 killed were militants, but they have not released any supporting evidence.
International Response
The United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent have called for an independent investigation into what they say was the systematic targeting of emergency responders.
The U.N. reported being denied access to the site for several days and later found bodies buried next to crushed ambulances and fire vehicles.
U.S. Position
The White House issued a statement placing blame on Hamas, with National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes saying, “Hamas uses ambulances and more broadly human shields for terrorism.”
President Donald Trump plans to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Gaza war and related tensions.
Source: USA Today
