IDF Investigation Finds Troops Fired on Medics Due to 'Perceived Threat'
Israeli Defense Forces report on incident in Rafah where 15 aid workers were killed, citing prior encounters as justification.
On March 23, 2025, Israeli troops opened fire on a convoy of unarmed medics and aid workers in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, including eight personnel from the Palestinian Red Crescent, six Civil Defence workers, and a UN worker.
This incident has been characterized by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a response to a 'perceived threat', attributed to a previous encounter in the area.
Following the shooting, Israeli forces reportedly bulldozed the bodies and vehicles, which led to their burial in a mass grave.
UN and rescue teams were only able to access the site a week later to recover the bodies.
The IDF's Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, has conducted a preliminary inquiry into the shooting.
This inquiry, presented by the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor, indicated that intelligence officials had identified at least six of those killed as Hamas operatives.
The IDF stated that the troops involved acted based on a perceived threat.
In a social media post, the IDF noted that a more extensive inquiry would be conducted through the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, led by MG (res.) Yoav Har-Even.
The final conclusions of this inquiry are expected to be presented to the Chief of the General Staff following its completion.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society's vice president noted that a video of the incident was subsequently found on the body of one of the deceased workers.
This video footage, which indicates that the emergency vehicles were operating with their lights flashing at the time of the shooting, was distributed to the UN Security Council by the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations.
A paramedic who survived the incident has confirmed the video's authenticity.
The IDF acknowledged discrepancies in its initial statements about the ambulances, admitting a previous assertion that the vehicles had their lights off was incorrect.
Video evidence published by a news outlet confirmed that the ambulances were identifiable as emergency vehicles.
As investigations continue, the IDF has stated that all claims regarding the incident will be examined thoroughly.
This incident has been characterized by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a response to a 'perceived threat', attributed to a previous encounter in the area.
Following the shooting, Israeli forces reportedly bulldozed the bodies and vehicles, which led to their burial in a mass grave.
UN and rescue teams were only able to access the site a week later to recover the bodies.
The IDF's Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, has conducted a preliminary inquiry into the shooting.
This inquiry, presented by the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor, indicated that intelligence officials had identified at least six of those killed as Hamas operatives.
The IDF stated that the troops involved acted based on a perceived threat.
In a social media post, the IDF noted that a more extensive inquiry would be conducted through the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism, led by MG (res.) Yoav Har-Even.
The final conclusions of this inquiry are expected to be presented to the Chief of the General Staff following its completion.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society's vice president noted that a video of the incident was subsequently found on the body of one of the deceased workers.
This video footage, which indicates that the emergency vehicles were operating with their lights flashing at the time of the shooting, was distributed to the UN Security Council by the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations.
A paramedic who survived the incident has confirmed the video's authenticity.
The IDF acknowledged discrepancies in its initial statements about the ambulances, admitting a previous assertion that the vehicles had their lights off was incorrect.
Video evidence published by a news outlet confirmed that the ambulances were identifiable as emergency vehicles.
As investigations continue, the IDF has stated that all claims regarding the incident will be examined thoroughly.
