The Israeli military has acknowledged a series of “professional failures” in the deadly attack on a convoy of emergency workers in Gaza last month, which killed 14 Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) medics and a UN worker.
An internal inquiry by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that the killings on March 23 were the result of an “operational misunderstanding,” a “breach of orders,” and poor night visibility. The deputy commander of the unit involved has been dismissed for providing “an incomplete and inaccurate report” during the initial debrief. Another commanding officer will receive a formal reprimand for overall responsibility in the incident.
The IDF said troops opened fire believing they were under threat from enemy forces in what it described as a “hostile and dangerous combat zone.” They argued that poor visibility prevented the ground commander from identifying the vehicles as ambulances. However, journalists shown aerial footage during a military briefing noted that some vehicles, including ambulances with flashing lights, passed safely between the two attacks — raising further questions about the IDF’s explanation.
While the IDF maintained that six of the 15 casualties were Hamas operatives, it rejected allegations of summary executions. Major General Yoav Har-Even, who led the investigation, insisted that the military would name the six individuals it identified as Hamas members.
The PRCS dismissed the IDF’s findings as “invalid,” accusing the military of justifying the killings by blaming “personal errors” rather than addressing deeper structural issues. A UN official in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, criticized the investigation for failing to establish true accountability, warning that “a lack of real accountability undermines international law.”
Initial IDF claims that the convoy was moving without lights or prior coordination were contradicted by video footage recovered from a medic’s phone, showing vehicles with headlights and emergency signals on, and paramedics in reflective uniforms. The same footage captured the terrifying moments before the shooting began at dawn, as well as soldiers’ voices approaching the targeted vehicles.
The 15 victims’ bodies were hastily buried in sand and remained undiscovered for a week because international agencies could not safely access the area.
The IDF also confirmed it is detaining a PRCS medic, identified by the International Committee of the Red Cross as Assad al-Nassasra, following the incident. International organizations have renewed calls for an independent investigation.
The IDF has previously dismissed commanders over similar incidents, notably after the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in April 2024.
Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, following the collapse of a ceasefire negotiation, as part of its ongoing campaign against Hamas after the October 7, 2023, attacks, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 51,201 deaths.