The Israeli military announced on Monday that an initial inquiry into the deaths of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza last month indicated that the event occurred “due to a sense of threat.”
The military reported that six Hamas militants were identified as being present at the time of the incident in Rafah.
In their statement, the military noted that a more comprehensive investigation is underway, but the preliminary findings suggested that troops opened fire based on a perceived threat following a prior encounter in the area. It was also stated that six of the deceased were recognized as Hamas militants.
The emergency workers were killed on March 23 and subsequently buried in shallow graves. Initially, the Israeli military claimed they fired upon unmarked vehicles approaching in the dark, but this narrative changed after video evidence surfaced showing clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights activated being targeted.
The Israeli military stated that a thorough investigation would take place in the coming days, with the results to be shared with the public.
The Red Crescent Society has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the Israeli military’s findings.
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In the aftermath of the incident, the Palestine Red Crescent Society called for an independent international investigation, asserting that the targeting of their ambulance convoy constituted “a full-fledged war crime, reflecting a dangerous pattern of repeated violations of international humanitarian law.”
The emergency workers involved were affiliated with the Red Cross, Red Crescent, U.N., and the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service.
