Israel Killed 15 Paramedics and Rescue Workers in Gaza One By One, Says UN

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Israeli forces executed 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers in southern Gaza one by one, stated the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The victims, including a UN employee, were buried in a mass grave in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan district.

The Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and civil defense teams had been on a mission to rescue colleagues who were shot earlier. Israeli troops targeted their clearly marked ambulances, firing at them one by one, OCHA said. A Red Crescent official reported that one victim was detained and later killed, as his body was found with hands tied.

The attack took place on March 23, just a day after Israel launched its renewed offensive in Rafah, near the Egyptian border. A PRCS worker who was part of the mission is still missing.

Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in Palestine, described the massacre in a video statement:

“One by one, the paramedics and civil defense workers were hit. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave. We’re digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave.”

Whittall added that Israeli forces used a bulldozer to bury the medics, along with their ambulances, a UN vehicle, and a fire truck.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, confirmed that one of the victims was a UN staff member. He called the killings a “profound violation of human dignity.”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) called it the deadliest attack on Red Crescent workers since 2017. IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain said:

“I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians. They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked.”

The Israeli military claimed its soldiers opened fire on several vehicles that were “advancing suspiciously” toward its troops without headlights or emergency signals. Israel also claimed that the vehicles had not coordinated their movement with the Israeli army and were in an “active combat zone.”

The PRCS rejected Israel’s claim, stating that Tel al-Sultan was a safe zone and movement there did not require coordination.

The Red Crescent also revealed that Israeli forces have been blocking efforts to retrieve the bodies for several days. When rescue teams finally recovered them, some were decomposed and had gunshot wounds in their upper bodies. One victim was found with his hands still tied.

This attack on medical workers adds to Israel’s broader crimes against Gaza’s healthcare system. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 1,060 healthcare workers and destroyed dozens of hospitals and medical facilities.

Whittall condemned the killings, stating:

“It’s absolute horror what has happened here. This should never happen. Healthcare workers should never be a target.”