The Israeli military has admitted to multiple "professional failures" in the March 23 incident where 15 emergency responders were killed in Gaza near Rafah. According to their internal review, the shootings happened due to misjudgments, rule violations, and incorrect reporting by officers involved.
The review found that soldiers mistakenly believed they were under threat from enemy forces, leading to the first two shootings. In the third incident, troops violated orders during combat. As a result, a deputy field commander—who also failed to report the incident accurately—will be dismissed, and another commanding officer will be reprimanded. A separate investigation is ongoing and could lead to criminal charges.
Video evidence shared by the Palestinian Red Crescent showed that those targeted were clearly marked emergency workers with ambulances and fire trucks. In total, 12 people were killed in the second shooting, and one more in the third. One survivor said soldiers opened fire on clearly identifiable emergency vehicles.
The military claimed that six of those killed were affiliated with Hamas, but has provided no evidence, and Hamas has denied the accusation. The incident sparked outrage, especially as some of the emergency responders were part of international humanitarian organizations.
