Israeli soldiers killed 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, one by one, as they tried to help colleagues who had been shot earlier in the day in southern Gaza, according to a report from the United Nations.
The paramedics, from the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and civil defense, were on a mission to rescue their fellow workers when their ambulances came under fire from Israeli forces in Rafah city’s Tel al-Sultan district. A Red Crescent official confirmed that one of the bodies found had its hands tied, suggesting the person may have been detained and killed while still alive.
According to The Guardian, the shootings took place on March 23, during the second day of a renewed Israeli military offensive near the Egyptian border. One Red Crescent worker who was part of the mission is still missing.
Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN humanitarian office in Palestine, explained in a video statement how the paramedics were killed one by one while trying to assist their colleagues. “Their bodies were gathered and buried in a mass grave,” Whittall said. “They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave.”
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, confirmed that one of their employees was among those killed in the attack. He described it as a “profound violation of human dignity” after the bodies were found discarded in shallow graves.
Israel’s military said its forces fired on vehicles that appeared to be moving “suspiciously” toward them without lights or emergency signals. They argued that the area was an active combat zone and that the vehicles had not coordinated their movement with Israeli forces. However, the Red Crescent argued that the Tel al-Sultan area had been considered safe and did not require coordination with Israeli forces.
The IDF did not comment on reports of the mass grave when asked for clarification. They had previously claimed to have killed nine militants from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on March 23, but they did not specify whether the paramedics were among those targeted or if the militants had been in the ambulances.
Earlier in the day on March 23, an airstrike had hit Rafah, and an ambulance was sent to help those injured. After losing contact with the ambulance, a convoy of five vehicles, including ambulances and civil defense trucks, was sent to retrieve the bodies. These vehicles were also fired upon, with most of the dead coming from that attack.
Dr. Bashar Murad, director of health programs for the Red Crescent, said one of the paramedics had called for help during the attack, reporting that he and another worker were injured. The call was interrupted by the sound of soldiers speaking in Hebrew, mentioning how to restrain the paramedics, indicating that many of them were still alive at that time.
Younis al-Khatib, president of the Red Crescent, said that Israeli forces delayed the recovery of the bodies for several days. When the bodies were eventually found, they were buried in sand and showed signs of decomposition. Murad explained that the victims were shot in the upper body and gathered in a mass grave.
Jens Lærke from the UN humanitarian office confirmed that the paramedics were killed over several hours while searching for their missing colleagues. Their clearly marked vehicles, including ambulances and a UN vehicle, were buried along with the bodies.
This attack is considered the deadliest on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers since 2017. Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, expressed heartbreak over the deaths, stating, “These workers were humanitarians, responding to wounded people. They wore emblems that should have protected them.”
Since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in October 2023, at least 1,060 healthcare workers have been killed. In response to ongoing safety concerns, the United Nations has reduced its international staff in Gaza by a third.
