Palestinians in Gaza mourned the deaths of 15 emergency responders on Monday after their bodies were discovered in a mass grave, allegedly buried by Israeli military bulldozers. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that the slain workers, including medics and rescue personnel, were clearly identified as humanitarian staff when Israeli forces attacked them.
According to the PRCS, eight of the victims were Red Crescent workers, six were from Gaza’s Civil Defense unit, and one was a UNRWA staff member. The Israeli military defended its actions, claiming the vehicles approached “suspiciously” without identification. However, no evidence has emerged supporting Israel’s claim that the responders were militants.
Missing Rescuers Found in Mass Grave
The emergency teams disappeared on March 23 after they responded to an Israeli offensive in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan district. Witnesses reported that Israeli troops surrounded them and later denied access to their location. On March 31, the UN revealed that Israeli forces had informed them of the burial site, where search teams discovered the bodies alongside mangled ambulances.
Video footage from the scene showed rescuers digging through mounds of dirt, uncovering bodies still wearing emergency vests. “Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave,” said Jonathan Whittall from the UN humanitarian office. “We’re digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives.”
International Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The discovery has sparked international condemnation. The UN demanded “justice and answers” regarding the killings. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, stated, “They were killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives.”
Jagan Chapagain, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, emphasized, “They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. All humanitarians must be protected.”
Since the war began, Israel has killed over 100 Civil Defense workers and 1,000 health workers, according to the UN. The PRCS condemned the latest attack, calling it a “cold-blooded killing” of humanitarian workers.
As families laid their loved ones to rest in Khan Younis, the grief-stricken crowd demanded accountability for the targeted killings of medics and aid workers in Gaza
