Israeli probe finds 'Professional Failures' in Gaza medics' deaths

An Israeli investigation into the deaths of 15 Palestinian medical workers in Gaza last month has revealed “professional failures,” leading to the dismissal of a deputy battalion commander.

Initially, the Israeli military claimed that the medics’ vehicles lacked emergency indicators when they were fired upon. However, this was later contradicted by cellphone footage recovered from one of the medics, which showed flashing emergency lights on the ambulances.

The probe concluded that the deputy commander, citing limited night visibility, mistakenly believed the ambulances were being used by Hamas militants. The footage confirmed that emergency lights were clearly visible at the time of the incident.

The deadly shooting occurred before dawn on March 23 in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, southern Gaza. Those killed included eight Red Crescent workers, six Civil Defense staff, and one United Nations employee. After the shootings, Israeli troops used bulldozers to bury the bodies and destroyed vehicles in a mass grave. It took a week before UN and emergency teams could reach the site to recover the remains.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the victims appeared to have been "deliberately targeted at close range."

The Israeli military described the incident as the result of an “operational misunderstanding” and acknowledged a separate violation of orders when soldiers fired at a U.N. vehicle shortly afterward.

The investigation concluded that crushing the ambulances was a mistaken decision but denied any intention to cover up the event. It also stated there was no evidence of executions or that the victims were restrained at any point.

Israel has long accused Hamas of using ambulances, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure to shield its fighters—a claim rejected by most medical personnel on the ground.