Israel is facing serious accusations after the bodies of 15 individuals were found in Gaza, including eight medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). The PRCS claims these aid workers were killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties, calling the incident a "war crime."
On Sunday, the PRCS stated that the medics were attacked by Israeli forces over a week ago. Along with the medics, the remains of six civil defense members and a United Nations employee were also recovered from the same area. One medic is still unaccounted for.
The organization condemned the attack, emphasizing that the targeting of aid workers, who are supposed to be protected under international law, is a grave violation. They described the incident as a "massacre" and a tragedy for humanitarian efforts.
In response, the Israeli military conducted an inquiry and claimed that the troops fired upon vehicles, including ambulances, because they approached a military position without prior coordination or proper signals. The military did not directly address the deaths of the Red Crescent workers but mentioned that it allowed the recovery of the bodies from an area labeled as an active combat zone.
The bodies were reportedly found buried in sand, marked by the emergency light from a damaged ambulance. Jonathan Whittall, the Gaza head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the scene as a "mass grave." He shared images of Red Crescent teams unearthing the bodies and laying them out.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, criticized the treatment of the bodies, calling it a "profound violation of human dignity." The International Committee of the Red Cross also expressed shock at the deaths of the volunteers who risked their lives to help others.
The medics went missing on March 23, shortly after Israel intensified its military offensive against Hamas. Since the beginning of the conflict, over 400 aid workers have reportedly been killed in Gaza. The UN has documented at least 1,060 healthcare worker deaths since the onset of this offensive, which was prompted by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that resulted in significant casualties in Israel.
As the situation remains volatile, the United Nations is reducing its international staff in Gaza by a third due to safety concerns. Palestinian health authorities report that more than 50,000 people have died in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military campaign. The ongoing violence and loss of life continue to raise alarms about the humanitarian crisis in the region.