A recently recovered video from the mobile phone of an aid worker tragically killed in Gaza, alongside fellow rescuers, captures their final moments. This footage, highlighted by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), shows clearly marked ambulances with emergency lights flashing amidst the chaos of heavy gunfire.
On March 23, 15 humanitarian personnel lost their lives in an attack attributed to Israeli forces, a tragic event acknowledged by both the United Nations and the PRCS.
In defense, the Israeli military stated, “Our soldiers did not randomly attack any ambulances,” claiming they targeted “terrorists” who approached in vehicles deemed suspicious. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani elaborated that the troops engaged vehicles without prior clearance and that had their lights turned off.
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The six-minute and 42-second video, seemingly filmed from inside a moving vehicle, captures a firetruck alongside ambulances navigating through a night filled with the sounds of automatic gunfire. As the vehicles halt beside another on the roadside, two men in uniform exit—moments later, a surge of gunfire erupts.
Within the video, the voices of two medics can be heard, with one stating, “the vehicle, the vehicle,” and the other responding, “It seems to be an accident.” Just seconds after, the scene turns to black as gunfire engulfs the area.
PRCS revealed that this poignant video was found on the phone of Rifat Radwan, one of the fallen aid workers. In a powerful statement, the PRCS asserted, “This video unequivocally refutes the occupation’s claims that Israeli forces did not randomly target ambulances, and that some vehicles had approached suspiciously without lights or emergency markings.” They emphasized that the footage unveils the reality and dismantles the prevailing narrative.
Hamas echoed these sentiments, labeling the video as “a damning piece of evidence of the occupation’s brutality.” They further alleged a calculated effort to obscure the truth by burying victims in mass graves.
The devastating attack resulted in the loss of eight PRCS staff members, six from the Gaza Civil Defence agency, and one employee from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Their remains were discovered near Rafah, described by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as a mass grave.
OCHA indicated that the initial rescue team was targeted at dawn, with subsequent rescue and aid teams also coming under fire as they searched for their missing colleagues. The PRCS noted that the convoy had been dispatched in response to emergency calls from civilians trapped amidst the bombardment in Rafah.
In this heart-wrenching video, one medic can be heard reciting the Islamic declaration of faith, the shahada, as they confront the imminent threat of death.
The loss of these aid workers has prompted widespread international outrage. Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in the Palestinian territories, remarked that the bodies of these humanitarian workers were “in their uniforms, still wearing gloves” upon discovery.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned the attack, highlighting concerns regarding potential “war crimes” committed by Israeli forces. He stated, “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.” He urged for an “independent, prompt, and thorough investigation” into the matter.
In response, an Israeli military official explained that the bodies had been covered “in sand and cloth” to protect them until international coordination could facilitate their retrieval, adding that the military is actively investigating the incident.
As we reflect on these tragic events, it is crucial that we seek the truth and ensure accountability for those lost.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
