An Israeli military investigation has identified critical missteps that resulted in the tragic deaths of medics in Gaza, revealing a clash between operational protocols and ground realities.
Israeli Military Acknowledges Fatal Errors in Gaza Medic Attack
Israeli Military Acknowledges Fatal Errors in Gaza Medic Attack
The Israeli forces admit to "professional failures" leading to the killing of medics, concluding an investigation into the incident.
In a recent statement, the Israeli military confirmed that an internal probe into the lethal assault on medics in Gaza last month found “several professional failures,” resulting in the dismissal of a deputy commander. Following the attack in Rafah, which claimed the lives of 14 rescue workers along with a U.N. employee, the military had previously accepted responsibility for the incident but faced backlash over inconsistent explanations regarding the attack on emergency vehicles.
Approximately a month after the attack, the military released findings indicating that the incident stemmed from “an operational misunderstanding” by troops on-site, who mistakenly believed they were confronting a real threat. The report highlighted breaches of orders, including firing at a U.N. vehicle amidst combat conditions.
Eyewitness accounts, along with video footage collated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, confirmed that Israeli forces targeted ambulances and a fire truck dispatched for rescue efforts. The military's statement noted that due to impaired visibility during nighttime operations, the deputy commander failed to recognize the vehicles as ambulances at the outset.
Two weeks prior to this announcement, the military had conceded that some of its earlier claims, based on the input from the soldiers involved, were inaccurate. Initial reports asserted that the vehicles approached the troops “suspiciously” without using lights or signals, which the military retracted following the emergence of footage demonstrating the rescue trucks operating with their lights on and halting before the engagement.
The military's investigation added that while retrieving the bodies may have been justifiable under the circumstances, the decision to destroy the vehicles involved was unacceptable. Consequently, the brigade commander will receive a reprimand for his overall oversight of the situation, whereas the battalion’s deputy commander will face dismissal for his inadequate reporting during the debrief process.
In the wake of recent humanitarian tragedies, this incident underscores escalating tensions and raises pressing concerns regarding the conduct of military operations in sensitive contexts.
