Autopsies show Israeli forces shot Gaza medics with intent to kill: Red Crescent

Autopsies conducted on 15 Palestinian paramedics and emergency responders killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza on 23 March have revealed they were shot in the upper body, suggesting they were deliberately targeted, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, which has demanded an independent international investigation.

The victims, including eight Red Crescent staff, six civil defence workers, and one UN agency employee, were engaged in humanitarian duties when Israeli forces opened fire during a renewed offensive in the Hamas-governed territory.

The incident, which occurred in the Tal al-Sultan area of Rafah city, drew international condemnation and intensified scrutiny over Israeli military conduct. The bodies of the victims were later discovered in what the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs described as a mass grave, located near the scene of the shooting.

The vehicles carrying the victims were reportedly marked and had visible headlights and flashing emergency lights, while the responders were dressed in high-visibility vests, as seen in video footage retrieved from one of the deceased's phones.

Initial statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that its troops had engaged what they believed to be “suspicious vehicles” lacking official clearance, claiming the vehicles had their lights off and were transporting Hamas-affiliated individuals.

However, this version of events was contradicted by visual evidence, prompting the IDF to revise its statement and acknowledge that its earlier assessment had been incorrect. Although the IDF later alleged that six of the medics were linked to Hamas, it has yet to provide supporting evidence, and all 15 victims were confirmed to be unarmed.

The deaths added to growing concerns among international observers and human rights organisations, who accuse Israel of operating with impunity and failing to hold soldiers accountable for lethal actions against humanitarian workers.

Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe, publicly called for a swift and transparent investigation, noting that the credibility of Israeli governance and rule of law could be impacted by the findings.

The Palestinian Red Crescent, along with other humanitarian groups, is calling for the establishment of an impartial inquiry commission to investigate what they describe as a deliberate targeting of medical crews. They also questioned the circumstances under which the bodies were buried and whether attempts were made to obscure the nature of the killings.

Since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza over the past 18 months, Israeli operations have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of humanitarian workers, including staff from non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies. Among those killed in earlier incidents were six workers from World Central Kitchen, who died despite travelling in vehicles that were clearly marked as humanitarian.

The latest incident has added urgency to calls for international oversight and accountability mechanisms as reports of targeted strikes against journalists and aid workers continue to emerge.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a media tent near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing a Palestinian journalist and a civilian and wounding several others. The strike further fuelled fears that humanitarian spaces are being disregarded in military operations.