Israel Alters Initial Story After Killing 15 Paramedics in Rafah: International Demands for Accountability Grow

In a troubling development that has shocked the international community, the Israeli military has changed its narrative regarding the killing of 15 emergency responders near Rafah, a southern city in Gaza, on March 23. Initially justifying the attack by claiming that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were using ambulances to move under the cover of night, Israel now admits its account was incomplete and based on potentially flawed field reports.

According to Red Crescent and United Nations officials, 15 of the 17 emergency workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent, Civil Emergency Services, and United Nations were shot dead by Israeli troops. Their bodies were discovered buried in a shallow grave nearly a week after the incident by UN and Red Crescent staff.

The emergency responders were dispatched in clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks to respond to casualties following Israeli airstrikes. Shockingly, video footage retrieved from a mobile phone of one of the deceased, and later published by the Palestinian Red Crescent, revealed that the vehicles had operational lights and markings—contrary to Israeli military claims.

One paramedic, Munther Abed, was the only known survivor of the massacre. He confirmed that Israeli forces opened fire on the team despite their vehicles being clearly marked as emergency units. Abed was detained for several hours and later released.

Initially, the Israeli army stated that its soldiers acted in response to “suspicious vehicles” lacking lights and proper identification. It claimed that the deceased were militants disguising themselves as medics. But the video evidence contradicts this and raises serious concerns about deliberate targeting.

Now, Israeli officials say that the video is being reviewed and that investigators are working to determine whether the soldiers who reported the event misidentified the emergency vehicles. They added that conclusions would be shared once a full investigation was completed.

The United Nations and Palestinian Red Crescent are demanding an independent and international investigation, stating that the pattern of violence appears to have occurred over several hours, not just a single event. The UN noted that one team was killed while responding to calls for help, and others were gunned down later as they searched for their missing colleagues.

To date, one emergency worker remains missing, adding to the tension surrounding this incident. Rights groups say this latest development underscores the urgent need for greater accountability, independent investigations, and the protection of humanitarian personnel under international law.

The killing of medics—who are universally protected under the Geneva Conventions—has added to global calls for Israel to stop targeting aid workers, journalists, and emergency responders, whose neutrality and service are fundamental to humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.