The tragic loss of 15 medics and humanitarian workers in Gaza, following gunfire directed at their ambulances by Israeli forces, has intensified concerns over potential war crimes by the Israeli military, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Volker Turk expressed his deep dismay before the UN Security Council, stating, “I am appalled by the recent killings of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers, which raise further concerns over the commission of war crimes by the Israeli military.”
This development comes as Israel’s military has announced an investigation into the deaths of the 15 Palestinian aid workers, who were tragically killed when Israeli troops opened fire on ambulances last month. The bodies were later discovered in a shallow grave near Red Crescent vehicles, a revelation that has sparked global outrage.
The UN has confirmed the deaths of these 15 dedicated medics and humanitarian workers. On Sunday, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported recovering the bodies of these brave rescuers after their ambulances were targeted by Israeli forces in southern Gaza.
According to the Red Crescent’s statement, the bodies included eight medics from the organization, six personnel from Gaza’s civil defense agency, and one employee from a UN agency. The UN humanitarian office (OCHA) revealed that a team of first responders was struck by Israeli forces on March 23, with various emergency and aid teams coming under attack while searching for their missing colleagues over several harrowing hours.
Jonathan Whittall, a UN aid official, remarked on the mass grave in Rafah, suggesting it underscores the “war without limits” that Israel is waging in Gaza. Meanwhile, an Israeli military official claimed that the army had contacted the organizations several times to coordinate the evacuation of the bodies in accordance with operational protocols. “Understanding that the process might take time, the bodies were covered with sand and cloth sheets to prevent damage,” the official stated.
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, noted that the incident from March 23—when IDF forces opened fire targeting what they believed were terrorists advancing in ambulances—has been handed over to the General Staff’s fact-finding and assessment mechanism for further investigation. However, a formal response has yet to be issued regarding allegations that the bodies were unceremoniously disposed of in a mass grave.
After visiting Gaza and uncovering the mass grave, Mr. Whittall described the scene as “shocking,” particularly as the medical workers were still in their uniforms and gloves, killed while attempting to save lives. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed his dismay, with spokesman Stephane Dujarric stating, “The secretary-general is shocked by the attacks of the Israeli army on a medical and emergency convoy on March 23 resulting in the killings of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian workers in Gaza.”
In a related development, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that early Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza have claimed at least 15 more lives, as the military issued evacuation orders for residents of the area. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal indicated that these strikes targeted several homes in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighborhood, with rescuers still working to free individuals trapped under the rubble.
The Israeli military has reiterated its evacuation orders for Shujaiya and other northern districts. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee emphasized, “The IDF is operating with great force in your areas to destroy the terrorist infrastructure.” He urged residents to “evacuate these areas immediately and move to the known shelters in western Gaza City.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
