On Saturday, the Israeli military admitted that initial reports concerning the tragic killing of 15 individuals in southern Gaza last month were partially “mistaken.” These victims were identified by the United Nations as paramedics and rescue workers. This acknowledgment comes in the wake of a video obtained by The New York Times, which appears to contradict the military’s earlier narrative regarding the incident. An Israeli military official, who requested anonymity in accordance with army protocols, shared this assessment during a briefing with reporters.
The military official confirmed that an internal investigation into the attack is currently underway, amidst heightened international scrutiny and condemnation. During the briefing on Saturday night, the official detailed the military’s preliminary findings, shedding light on the events that transpired on March 23.
According to the official, forces from a reserve infantry brigade were positioned in ambush along a road north of the Gazan city of Rafah in the early hours of the morning. At approximately 4 a.m., these forces engaged what they believed to be two Hamas security personnel, subsequently detaining a third individual.
As dawn approached, around two hours later, a convoy composed of ambulances and a fire truck was observed approaching the same location. The Israeli forces remained on-site and had received intelligence from a surveillance aircraft indicating that the convoy was moving towards them. When the rescue workers exited their vehicles, the military believed that additional Hamas operatives had arrived, leading them to open fire on the occupants from a distance.
Previously, the Israeli military had consistently and incorrectly claimed that the vehicles were “advancing suspiciously” towards their position “without headlights or emergency signals,” which contributed to the tragic outcome of the incident.
This situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by military operations in conflict zones, as well as the critical need for accurate reporting and accountability in such matters.
