The killings of paramedics in Gaza from Israel: deliberate or mistake

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that the Israeli forces shot 15 paramedics and rescuers in the southern city of Rafah « with the intention of killing them, » at a time when the army changed his story shortly after the appearance of a video, questioned the original version, and an investigation was announced.

« We are calling for the world to form an independent and impartial international committee » to clarify the circumstances, « said the President of the Red Crescent in the West Bank, ENNIS AL HATIB, according to which the autopsy shows that » all martyrs (the victims – ed.) Were shot at the top of the body.  » Israel explained on Sunday that the investigation is still ongoing.

On Monday afternoon, Palestinian medics also say that a journalist was killed and nine were injured in a tent hit used by local media. In Israel, some commenting on the topic warns the cases to comment cautiously.

What Israel says

The version at the beginning was that soldiers opened fire on vehicles that approached « suspiciously » to their position in the dark without lights or marking. It says they killed nine Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters who were traveling in cars on the Palestinian Red Crescent.

According to an Israeli military official, the conclusions had to be presented in the army on Sunday. According to him, the initial report does not speak of light, but investigators are considering « operational information ».

Israeli media, according to the military, say the army identified at least six of the 15 killed as members of extremist groups. However, the employee declined to provide any evidence or details of how this was done because he did not want to share classified information. « This investigation is not over, » although there were « terrorists » according to the military. « 

The firing of a short distance shooting is denied. However, the military approached enough to recognize some as fighters (no evidence was specified). The UN was asked immediately (there was no attempt to conceal the incident) and when no one came to pick them up, the military covered the bodies with sand to protect them from animals. The UN claims otherwise: that it was actually sought, but Israel had been refusing access to the area for several days, and that the bodies were found to their crushed vehicles (according to Tel Aviv, they were simply displaced with bulldozers) – clearly marked ambulances, fire trucks and a UN car.

Comment from the US and other reactions

The UN and the Palestinian Red Crescent demanded an independent investigation. « We need justice for the victims and we have to ensure that all responsible will be held accountable, » said Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman Nebal Farsak. « With this, crimes will continue to happen. »

On Sunday, the White House said President Donald Trump holds Hamas responsible for the incident.

« Hamas » uses ambulances and more generally live shields for terrorism, « said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council. » President Trump understands the impossible situation that this tactics creates for Israel, and holds a « Hamas » entirely responsible.  » Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyu meets Trump in the White House on Monday.

Representatives of the Red Crescent and the UN said 17 Paramedics and Emergency Red Crescent Paramedics and Emergency Emergency Service, and the UNs were sent to respond to reports of Israeli air strikes wounded.

In addition to the paramedic Abed, who was detained for several hours before he was released, another worker was unknown.

According to talking to Israeli and international media, an army spokesman for surgery around 4am. On March 23, two people from Hamas’s internal security were liquidated and a man was detained during an interrogation that he was from Hamas. Different cars passed the same road to South Gaza until the military received reports of a suspicious group of vehicles. They decided that the incident was similar to the one from 4 o’clock in the morning and opened fire.

Well -known journalist

Reuters

There are also critically injured according to the media and the local journalistic union. Reuters confirms the authenticity of the video (but does not comment on another one, available in X, which shows how a man burns and another person tries to save him).

The Israeli army said in a statement that it had hit Hassan Aslich, whom he described as « a terrorist acting under the guise of a journalist » and a member of the Hamas Brigade. In Gaza, Aslich enjoys the reputation of a well -known journalist with hundreds of thousands of followers on social networks. However, Israel claims to have participated in the attack on October 7 with 1,200 casualties led by Hamas and caused the war with over 50,000 killed Palestinians in land and air operations of the Israeli army.