The remains of eight Red Crescent medics, six civil defense members, and one UN employee, who were tragically shot by Israeli forces over a week ago, have been unearthed from a shallow grave in southern Gaza, as confirmed by UN officials.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), expressed his outrage on the social media platform X, stating that the bodies had been “discarded in shallow graves – a profound violation of human dignity.” His comments underscore the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict.
In a statement released late last night, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) voiced its deep dismay, declaring, “We are appalled at the deaths.” The organization further emphasized the importance of honoring these individuals: “Their bodies were identified today and have been recovered for dignified burial. These staff and volunteers were risking their own lives to provide support to others.”
While the ICRC did not provide immediate details about the site of the discovery, its significance cannot be understated.
#Gaza: It is devastating to confirm the deaths of two additional @UNRWA colleagues and eight Palestinian Red Crescent aid workers & first responders. This brings the total death toll of aid workers to 408, including more than 280 UNRWA staff, since the war began 1.5 years ago.
This grim report was shared by Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) on March 31, 2025, highlighting the heavy toll on humanitarian workers in the region.
The group had gone missing on March 23, coinciding with Israel’s renewed offensive against Hamas earlier that month. The Palestine Red Crescent Society also reported the recovery of six civil defense members and one UN employee from the same vicinity, underscoring the dangerous environment in which these individuals operated.
In response to these tragic events, the Israeli military asserted that an investigation revealed troops had opened fire on a group of vehicles, which included ambulances and fire trucks, without prior coordination and lacking headlights or emergency signals. The military claimed that several militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were among those killed.
Notably, over the last 18 months since Israel’s offensive began, at least 1,060 healthcare workers have lost their lives, illustrating the immense risks associated with providing medical care in conflict zones.
Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, described the site where the bodies were located as a “mass grave,” marked by the emergency light from a damaged ambulance. He shared images depicting Red Crescent teams laboring in the sand near a crumpled fire truck and a UN vehicle.
Mr. Lazzarini reiterated the severity of this incident, stating that it raises the total number of aid workers killed since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to an alarming 408. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) noted that this incident is the deadliest attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent personnel since 2017.
“I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians,” lamented IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. He added, “They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked.”
In light of these ongoing safety concerns, the United Nations has decided to reduce its international staff presence in Gaza by one third, reflecting the precarious conditions faced by those committed to humanitarian efforts.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
