Israel’s military has acknowledged “professional failures” and breach of orders in the killing of 15 rescue workers in Gaza last month. The victims included Red Crescent paramedics, civil defence workers, and a UN staffer who were shot by Israeli troops during a rescue mission. The bodies of the health workers were found days after the incident, buried in a sandy mass grave.
The military has stated that a deputy commander responsible for the incident will be dismissed from his position due to his role as the field commander and providing an inaccurate report. While the report admits to mistakes and breaches, no criminal action is recommended against the military units involved in the incident.
The investigation conducted by Israel’s military has been met with skepticism by human rights lawyers and the Palestine Red Crescent. They allege that the inquiry lacks independence and is not objective. The report claims that six of the victims were Hamas militants, which has been disputed by the Red Crescent.
The military’s report attributes the shooting to an “operational misunderstanding” and claims that the ambulances were viewed as a threat due to poor visibility at night. Video footage contradicts this claim, showing that the ambulances had flashing emergency lights.
Critics have called for a war crimes investigation into the incident, which involved the shooting of unarmed health workers. The international community has long accused Israel of failing to properly investigate such incidents, and the recent findings have only added to these concerns.
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