In a shocking revelation, the United Nations has accused Israeli troops of killing 15 Palestinian medics and emergency responders in southern Gaza and burying them in a mass grave. The bodies, along with mangled ambulances, were discovered in a site reportedly plowed over by Israeli military bulldozers. The Palestinian Red Crescent has condemned the killings, stating that the workers were clearly marked as medical personnel and were targeted “in cold blood.” The deceased included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gaza’s Civil Defense emergency unit, and a staffer from UNRWA, the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has described it as the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. The Israeli military, however, claims its troops fired on “suspicious” vehicles approaching without identification, raising serious questions about the rules of engagement in conflict zones.
According to the UN, the emergency teams had been missing since March 23 after they went to retrieve casualties from the Tel al-Sultan district of Rafah, where Israeli forces had launched an offensive. Witness accounts suggest that the first team was surrounded and killed by Israeli troops, and subsequent rescue teams were similarly targeted. The UN further stated that the military refused to allow access to the area for days, with attempts to retrieve bodies being met with gunfire. Video footage released by the UN shows emergency responders digging through piles of dirt left by Israeli bulldozers, uncovering bodies still wearing their emergency vests. Heavily damaged ambulances and UN vehicles were also found buried at the site. The gruesome discovery has sparked outrage, with UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher demanding “justice and answers,” calling the attack a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
The killings have intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, which resumed on March 18 following a two-month ceasefire. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the latest offensive, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting that more than half of the casualties are women and children. Aid workers and humanitarian staff have also been increasingly targeted, with Israeli strikes hitting UN compounds, ambulances, and even food distribution centers. A growing number of international organizations, including the Red Cross, are calling for accountability and urging Israel to uphold protections for medical and humanitarian personnel. Despite mounting pressure, Israeli authorities have yet to respond to demands for a transparent investigation into the incident.