The Israeli military has acknowledged significant operational failures in its deadly March 23 attack that killed 15 Palestinian emergency medical personnel near Rafah, with officials announcing the dismissal of a field commander involved in the incident.
The first responders, including eight Palestinian Red Crescent staff members, six civil defence workers, and one UNRWA employee, were killed while answering a distress call in southern Gaza’s Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood.
According to investigations by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, the victims’ bodies were later discovered buried in a mass grave alongside their destroyed ambulances, approximately one week after the attack.
Medical examinations conducted by Palestinian authorities revealed disturbing details about the nature of the killings. Younis Al-Khatib, president of the Palestinian Red Crescent in the West Bank, stated that autopsy results confirmed all victims sustained gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, indicating what he characterised as intentional lethal force. Supporting evidence includes recovered cellphone footage from one deceased medic showing their ambulance convoy travelling with activated emergency lights before the attack.
Israeli military admits 'professional failures' in killings of Palestinian medics in Gaza
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— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 20, 2025An internal Israeli military investigation concluded that multiple violations of standard operating procedures occurred during the incident. The probe identified specific failures, including breaches of engagement protocols, inadequate reporting procedures, and incomplete disclosure during post-operation debriefings. As a result, military authorities have decided to relieve a deputy commander of his duties, citing his direct responsibility as field commander during the operation and subsequent failure to provide accurate reporting.
Israeli probe into the killing of 15 Gaza emergency workers finds "professional failures" in the unit. A commander is being fired over the incident. https://t.co/nCldJnsbTD
— CNN International (@cnni) April 20, 2025The acknowledgement comes amid mounting international criticism of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has raised concerns that the incident may constitute a war crime, adding to growing scrutiny of Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory. These developments occur against the backdrop of escalating violence, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting that the conflict’s total death toll has now surpassed 51,000 casualties, a figure recognised as credible by United Nations officials.
Current hostilities continue to claim civilian lives, according to local emergency services. Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported to AFP that Israeli airstrikes on Sunday alone killed at least 25 people across the territory, including women and children. Among these casualties were five individuals killed by a drone strike in eastern Rafah, underscoring the persistent danger facing Gaza’s civilian population.
