In a significant shift from its original account, the Israeli military has revised its explanation of the tragic killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza on March 23, 2025. The aid workers, including paramedics and emergency responders from the Palestinian Red Crescent and United Nations, were shot dead near the city of Rafah. Their bodies were discovered a week later, buried in a shallow grave alongside their clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks.
Initially, the Israeli military claimed that soldiers fired on unmarked vehicles moving suspiciously in the dark without headlights. They asserted that nine of those killed were members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad who were using Red Crescent vehicles to mask their movements.
However, new video evidence has cast serious doubt on that version of events.
Footage recovered from a mobile phone belonging to one of the victims, and published by the Palestinian Red Crescent, clearly shows uniformed emergency workers in well-marked vehicles with lights flashing—coming under heavy gunfire. This aligns with testimony from the only known survivor, Red Crescent paramedic Munther Abed, who said he witnessed Israeli troops opening fire on emergency vehicles.
Following public outcry and demands for accountability, an Israeli military official admitted on April 6 that the initial field report was likely incorrect. “What we understand currently is that the person who gave the first account was mistaken. We’re trying to understand why,” the official said. Investigators are now reviewing the video and operational data, with conclusions expected to be presented to commanders soon.
Despite the updated account, the military maintains that at least six of the dead were militants. Yet, no concrete evidence or details have been shared, with officials citing the sensitivity of the information. “There were terrorists there, but this investigation is not over,” the military spokesperson stated.
The U.N. and Palestinian Red Crescent have called for an independent investigation into the incident. According to their reports, the aid teams had been responding to injuries from Israeli airstrikes when they were systematically targeted over several hours. Abed was detained briefly and later released, while one emergency worker remains missing.
The Israeli military said the shooting began at around 4 a.m. when soldiers fired at a vehicle carrying two members of Hamas’ internal security forces. A third person, captured alive, allegedly confessed to being part of Hamas during interrogation.
At about 6 a.m., troops reportedly received aerial surveillance indicating another “suspicious group of vehicles” approaching. Believing it to be another militant encounter, they opened fire again. The military claims the shooting was from a distance and denied any close-range execution or mistreatment.
The soldiers allegedly informed the U.N. about the incident the same day and initially covered the bodies with camouflage netting. Later, when the U.N. did not retrieve the bodies promptly, the military said they buried them to protect them from animals. The vehicles—clearly marked as ambulances and emergency response units—were reportedly crushed and buried by an engineering vehicle, although no explanation was offered for this.
As calls for justice grow louder, Red Crescent spokesperson Nebal Farsakh stated, “We need justice for the victims and we need to ensure that all of those who are responsible are held to account. Without this, the crimes will continue.”
