Mobile phone footage has surfaced indicating that Israeli troops may have misidentified emergency vehicles before opening fire, resulting in the tragic loss of 15 medical personnel in Gaza on March 23. The video, shared by the New York Times, shows ambulances and a fire truck operating with illuminated headlights and emergency lights during the early morning hours when they were attacked.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially claimed that "several uncoordinated vehicles were identified advancing suspiciously" and were fired upon. However, a surviving paramedic, who has contested this assertion, reported to the BBC that the vehicles were clearly marked as ambulances and had their lights on, indicating their emergency status.
Further examination of the footage reveals the marked ambulance vehicles halting at the side of the road with flashing lights, and multiple emergency personnel stepping out in reflective gear before the gunfire erupted. Tragically, the video was recorded by a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic who was killed in the incident, found later with the recording on his phone.
As investigations continue, the IDF has yet to provide additional evidence to substantiate its claim of the presence of Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants in the area during the assault. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reaffirmed the military’s stance, declaring that "the IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance."
In response to the footage, President of the PRCS, Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, highlighted the emotional impact of the video, sharing the heartbreaking last words of a fallen medic who expressed a desire to help. He called for accountability and an independent investigation, condemning the actions leading to the medics' deaths as an "atrocious crime."
As it stands, one paramedic remains missing after the tragedy that gripped both local and international observers, reigniting discussions on the treatment of medical personnel in conflict zones.
