The Israeli military has admitted that “professional failures” were responsible for the deaths of 15 emergency workers in Gaza on March 23, following an internal investigation into the incident.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the deadly attack on a convoy of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances, a UN vehicle, and a fire truck resulted from “operational misunderstandings” and a “breach of orders.” The IDF claimed soldiers believed they were under threat when the convoy approached rapidly in what they called a “dangerous combat zone.”
The deputy commander involved was dismissed for providing “an incomplete and inaccurate report” during the initial debrief. Another senior officer received a formal reprimand for his role.
However, the PRCS rejected the report, calling it “invalid” and accusing the IDF of shifting blame to a “field-level mistake” while ignoring deeper accountability.
Initially, the Israeli military said the convoy was moving suspiciously at night without headlights, but this version was later disproven by video footage found on the phone of a slain medic. The video showed the vehicles clearly marked, emergency lights flashing, and medics in reflective uniforms, contradicting IDF claims of poor visibility.
Major General Yoav Har-Even, who led the inquiry, stated that six of the deceased were Hamas operatives — a claim the IDF continues to stand by — but denied accusations of summary executions.
The remains of the medics were buried in sand and went unrecovered for nearly a week, as international agencies were unable to safely access the site. The IDF also confirmed it is holding PRCS medic Assad al-Nassasra in detention.
The Red Crescent and other international organizations continue to call for an independent investigation, criticizing the IDF’s internal inquiry as insufficient.
The incident is one of several in which Israeli forces have faced backlash for the deaths of aid workers. In April last year, a separate IDF strike killed seven World Central Kitchen staff, prompting similar disciplinary measures within the military.
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