Israeli military asserted that "incompetence in professional duties" contributed to the fatal shooting of Palestinian medics in Gaza.
In a recent investigation, the Israeli military admits that a tragic incident in Gaza back in March was due to "professional blunders" and dirty deeds. The catastrophe took the lives of 15 heroes who worked as paramedics and first responders, most of whom were part of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). The aftermath sparked global condemnation as these brave individuals were buried in an unholy mass grave.
The Israeli Probe revealed numerous fails during this heart-wrenching incident, along with orders being disregarded and incomplete reports about the incident. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the troops did not engage in wanton shooting, but they did spray bullets at what they perceived to be a clear threat amid an "operational hiccup."
The IDF declared that the troops did not aimlessly fire, but they opened up on what they believed to be a credible threat in a confusing tactical situation. As a result of the probe, the commander of the 14th Brigade received a letter of reprimand, and the deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion was sacked from his position. The IDF decided to let go of the deputy commander due to his involvement in the incident and providing an "insufficient and inaccurate report" about the occurrence.
"The IDF regrets the harm we imposed on innocent civilians," a statement read. The IDF cautions its forces when operating near rescue units and medical professionals, even in high-intensity combat zones.
However, the general who supervised the Israeli military's investigation into the killings stated there's no reason to modify the IDF's fighting tactics or rules of engagement. Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even believes the commander who issued the order to fire acted reasonably and in accordance with IDF rules of engagement. "It's a slip-up. It could happen tomorrow - I hope it will not - unfortunately, it took place," he stated to CNN.
Har-Even addressed an international media gathering, describing the commander's actions as blunders, but stopping short of acknowledging any wrongdoing on the commander's part. The findings will be sent to the Israeli military's attorney general, who will determine if any charges should be filed against the soldiers involved.
A series of mistakes
The troops opened fire on three separate occasions on March 23rd. In the first shooting, Israeli soldiers fired on a car the IDF claimed belonged to Hamas. Two Palestinians lost their lives, and a third was apprehended temporarily.
An hour later, the troops targeted the convoy of PRCS ambulances and Civil Defense vehicles, taking the lives of 12 more Palestinians, according to the investigation. Autopsy reports for the eight PRCS medics obtained by CNN showed that most were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, while others sustained shrapnel wounds from the explosion force. The bodies had started decomposing in their mass grave after being buried for over a week.
Initially, the IDF insisted that the vehicles were driving suspiciously without headlights or emergency signals. However, a cell phone video from one of the emergency responders clearly demonstrated that the convoy was moving in single file, and the ambulances had their lights on. Despite the release of the video, the IDF's investigation still declared it difficult to distinguish the ambulances.
Har-Even explained a series of missteps taken by the soldiers of the elite Golani Reconnaissance Battalion on that fateful day and due to the deputy battalion commander's poor line of sight, which was obstructed by a hillside. He declined to explain why troops continued to fire on the convoy of ambulances as they drew closer and didn't receive any return fire.
PRCS's response: contradictions and war crimes?
The President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society expressed "a lot of contradictions" in Israel's accounts of the killing of the emergency workers. "It is obvious that in the same report and in their press conference - the occupying forces - there are a lot of contradictions," Younis Al-Khatib said. Al-Khatib pointed to the cell phone footage that proved the convoy was driving with headlights on during the attack.
"Either you did not see the lights of the car, and you didn't realize these are ambulances. As you saw the video that came out, they lied, and it was proven. How can you claim you didn't see anything, you didn't see the lights? All the evidence came out, and it proves that this story is fabricated," Al-Khatib stated.
In the aftermath of the attack, the PRCS declared the incident "can only be viewed as a war crime punishable under international humanitarian law, which Israel continues to disregard before the eyes of the entire world."
This article is solely intended for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or official documentation.
- The Middle East, particularly Gaza, was once again plunged into a state of disarray as a tragic incident resulted in the loss of 15 lives, most of whom were part of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), and was due to both professional blunders and unethical conduct.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to numerous failures in their investigation of the incident, including disregarding orders, incomplete reports, and the use of lethal force against medical professionals and rescue units.
- As a result of the probe, the commander of the 14th Brigade received a reprimand, while the deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion was dismissed due to his role in the incident and providing an insufficient and inaccurate report.
- The IDF acknowledged the harm inflicted on innocent civilians, but has no plans to alter its fighting tactics or rules of engagement, with Major General Yoav Har-Even stating that the commander who issued the order to fire acted reasonably.
- The PRCS stands firm in its belief that the Israeli military's accounts of the incident contain numerous contradictions, and has declared the attack as a potential war crime under international humanitarian law.
