Middle East War: Killed rescuers in Gaza: Israel grants mistakes

Almost a month after the killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics and civil protection employees in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military granted mistakes in his soldiers involved. The incident on March 23, in which Israeli uniformed people had shot on outpatient clinic and fire engines of the Palestinian emergency services, was caused by an “operational misunderstanding”, according to the summary of an investigation that the military published on Sunday.

There were three armed incidents in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in the southern Gaza Strip, which was the second with the rescue teams, it is said. “The investigation found that the use of firearms in the first two incidents resulted from an operational misunderstanding on the part of the (Israeli) troops,” says the summary. The soldiers had believed that they were exposed to a real threat from enemy forces.

The military recommends disciplinary measures against the commanding officers of the information battalion involved in the incident. The vice commander of the battalion, who had commanded the campaign directly on site, will be removed from his post. He then submitted an “incomplete and incorrect” report. The brigade commander who is superior to him get a warning.

Rescue vehicles drove with flashing lights

The killing of the 15 rescue workers had triggered great outrage worldwide. Israel had originally portrayed the incident in such a way that the rescue vehicles were not marked and driven without flashing lights. Two weeks later, the Palestinian red crescent moon (PRCS) was able to ensure the cell phone camera from one of the paramedics killed. On the recordings you can see that the cars were marked as rescue vehicles and drove with flashing lights. Israel then announced an investigation of the incident.

In the summary of the report, the Israeli armed forces express their regret about the damage that has been inflicted by uninvolved civilians. At the same time, the report states that 6 Hamas members were killed.

The German Federal Government had supported the demands for an investigation. “We also think that a comprehensive examination of the incidents is necessary,” said a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office. She described the pictures from Rafah as “dismaying” and emphasized that medical staff and humanitarian helpers should never be the goal of attacks.