Mon Apr 21 15:30:50 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Military Admits “Professional Failures” in Killing of 15 Emergency Workers in Gaza
**Gaza City/Jerusalem** – The Israeli military has acknowledged “professional failures” leading to the deaths of 15 emergency workers in Gaza last month, a conclusion that has been met with skepticism by Palestinian authorities and human rights groups. The workers, whose bodies were found in a mass grave along with their vehicles, were killed in what the military now describes as a series of “operational misunderstandings” and a “breach of orders.”
The Israeli investigation, which followed the discovery of a video depicting the final moments of the emergency workers, revealed that troops opened fire on clearly marked ambulances and firetrucks, mistaking them for potential threats. Poor night visibility and limitations of night-vision equipment were cited as contributing factors. The investigation also determined that a deputy commander, who has been dismissed for providing an incomplete report, mistakenly believed one ambulance was being used by Hamas.
While the military claims the subsequent bulldozing of the bodies and vehicles was not an attempt to conceal the attack, but rather to preserve them until retrieval, this explanation has been rejected by many. The investigation concluded that 12 of the workers were killed in a second shooting incident, with another death in a separate incident. The military also insists that six of the victims were Hamas members, although it presents no evidence and no weapons were found on the bodies or in the vehicles. This claim directly contradicts eyewitness testimony indicating that the workers were executed at close range after their identities as first responders were confirmed.
The Israeli military’s account contrasts sharply with evidence presented by Palestinian authorities and international observers. A video recovered from the phone of slain paramedic Rifaat Radwan clearly shows the clearly marked emergency vehicles with flashing lights under attack. Witnesses reported that several team members had their hands and feet bound and suffered bullet wounds to the head and torso. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) corroborated this testimony.
The Military Advocate General’s Corps will now decide whether to file civil charges. However, critics point to a pattern of internal investigations that lack independence and transparency, often resulting in minimal accountability for the Israeli military. The Israeli military’s past handling of similar incidents, including the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, fuels concerns that this investigation will not lead to meaningful consequences. Palestinian authorities and human rights organizations have dismissed the findings as insufficient and continue to demand a thorough and independent international investigation.
First Piper 