The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have acknowledged a serious mistake in identifying a group of aid workers as a threat in Gaza. This admission comes after a video surfaced showing the ambulances clearly marked with flashing lights when Israeli troops opened fire on them.
The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of 15 aid workers, including eight medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). Their bodies were later discovered in what has been described as a mass grave, a detail confirmed by Jonathan Whittall, who heads the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Initially, the IDF claimed that an investigation found the vehicles did not have headlights or emergency signals, leading them to believe the convoy was suspicious. However, the newly released video footage, verified by Sky News, contradicts this account. It clearly shows the ambulances and a fire vehicle with their lights on.
The incident took place in the Tel Sultan neighborhood of Rafah shortly after a Hamas police vehicle had passed through. An IDF surveillance aircraft was monitoring the situation and alerted ground troops. When the ambulances arrived, soldiers opened fire, mistakenly thinking the medics posed a threat. The IDF stated that the soldiers were surprised when the ambulances stopped and people exited quickly.
The military has since admitted that their earlier statement about the ambulances having their lights off was incorrect. This error stemmed from the soldiers’ testimonies. The IDF has promised to conduct a re-investigation to address this discrepancy.
In a disturbing detail, the IDF explained that the bodies of the aid workers were buried in a mass grave as a standard practice to prevent animals from disturbing the remains. However, they could not clarify why the ambulances were also buried.
The IDF also mentioned that six of the deceased were linked to Hamas but did not provide any supporting evidence for this claim. The PRCS president, Dr. Younis Al Khatib, revealed that the video was recorded on the phone of one of the workers who was killed. His last words, captured in the footage, were a heartfelt plea to his mother, expressing his desire to help others.
This incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones. The video footage, along with satellite imagery taken shortly after the incident, helps to verify the timeline and location of the events. As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, the implications of this incident raise serious questions about the safety and protection of aid workers in such volatile environments.