RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Israeli forces were accused of killing fifteen Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, including a United Nations employee, in southern Gaza, the UN revealed today. The victims, who were part of the Palestinian Red Crescent and civil defense teams, were fatally shot while attempting to rescue colleagues under fire in Rafah city’s Tel al-Sultan district.
The incident occurred on March 23, not long after the beginning of Israel’s renewed offensive near the Egyptian border. According to eyewitnesses, the Palestinian vehicles, clearly marked for rescue operations, were targeted by heavy Israeli fire. The bodies of the victims were reportedly buried in a mass grave in the area.
The head of the UN humanitarian affairs office in Palestine, Jonathan Whittall, condemned the killings, stating that the paramedics were there to save lives but tragically ended up losing their own. The situation escalated when the Israeli military allegedly opened fire on the Red Crescent vehicles, leading to the deaths of both Red Crescent workers and a UN staff member.
In response to the accusations, the Israeli military claimed that its troops had targeted suspicious vehicles advancing towards IDF troops without proper coordination. The IDF also asserted that the area where the shootings occurred was an active combat zone, justifying their actions.
The Red Crescent president, Younis al-Khatib, accused the IDF of obstructing the retrieval of the victims’ bodies for several days. The Red Crescent staff faced difficulties recovering the bodies from the sandy grave, with some showing signs of decomposition.
The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, confirmed that one of its employees was among the casualties found in the mass grave. The Red Crescent identified the employees killed in the attack and mourned their loss, calling it the deadliest attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers in years.
Healthcare workers should never be targeted in conflict zones, emphasized Whittall, highlighting the importance of protecting humanitarian workers. The harrowing situation in southern Gaza sheds light on the risks faced by emergency responders in volatile regions, raising concerns about the safety of healthcare workers amidst ongoing violence.