In a stark admission of responsibility, the Israeli military has confirmed significant operational failures in a recent attack that killed medics and a UN employee in Gaza, sparking international outrage.
Israeli Military Admits Fault in Gaza Medics' Deaths Amid International Outcry
Israeli Military Admits Fault in Gaza Medics' Deaths Amid International Outcry
An investigation reveals serious errors in Israeli forces' attack on medics in Gaza, leading to planned dismissals within the military.
The Israeli military stated on Sunday that its inquiry into the attack on emergency workers in Rafah last month uncovered multiple “professional failures” and has resulted in disciplinary measures against a deputy commander. This military action led to the deaths of 14 medics and a UN employee, following conflicting narratives regarding the incident's nature. While the military acknowledged the attack, it faced severe criticism domestically and internationally, with experts labeling it a possible war crime.
In a statement summarizing the findings of its investigation, the military declared that the soldiers acted under a misapprehension, believing they were under threat when they fired upon the ambulances and other rescue vehicles responding to a call. Poor visibility at night contributed to the deputy commander’s failure to identify the emergency vehicles promptly. The military also noted that firing on the UN vehicle represented a clear violation of operational orders.
Eyewitness accounts, supported by video evidence from a paramedic's cellphone, contradict initial military claims that the vehicles approached suspiciously without proper signals. Just days after the attack, military officials retracted earlier statements, insisting that the ambulances lacked lights and were advancing aggressively, an assertion proven false by the video footage showing the vehicles with flashing lights.
In the wake of the attack, Israeli troops reportedly buried most of the deceased in a mass grave and destroyed the rescue vehicles, actions that have since been acknowledged as misguided by military authorities. The military now claims that while some actions taken during the incident were justified, the destruction of the vehicles was unnecessary and inappropriate.
The investigation highlighted a failure to report fully and accurately about the incident, leading to accountability measures against both the brigade commander and the battalion's deputy commander, who will face reprimands and dismissal respectively due to their roles and the inconsistencies in their reports.
This admission and its aftermath come at a tense time as the international community continues to scrutinize Israeli military operations and their compliance with humanitarian law, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza.
In a statement summarizing the findings of its investigation, the military declared that the soldiers acted under a misapprehension, believing they were under threat when they fired upon the ambulances and other rescue vehicles responding to a call. Poor visibility at night contributed to the deputy commander’s failure to identify the emergency vehicles promptly. The military also noted that firing on the UN vehicle represented a clear violation of operational orders.
Eyewitness accounts, supported by video evidence from a paramedic's cellphone, contradict initial military claims that the vehicles approached suspiciously without proper signals. Just days after the attack, military officials retracted earlier statements, insisting that the ambulances lacked lights and were advancing aggressively, an assertion proven false by the video footage showing the vehicles with flashing lights.
In the wake of the attack, Israeli troops reportedly buried most of the deceased in a mass grave and destroyed the rescue vehicles, actions that have since been acknowledged as misguided by military authorities. The military now claims that while some actions taken during the incident were justified, the destruction of the vehicles was unnecessary and inappropriate.
The investigation highlighted a failure to report fully and accurately about the incident, leading to accountability measures against both the brigade commander and the battalion's deputy commander, who will face reprimands and dismissal respectively due to their roles and the inconsistencies in their reports.
This admission and its aftermath come at a tense time as the international community continues to scrutinize Israeli military operations and their compliance with humanitarian law, particularly in conflict zones like Gaza.
