Gaza, Idf admits mistake on ambulances hit: “They had lights on”

Military investigation into Rafah attack refutes initial version. Killed 14 rescuers, convoy was mistaken for a threat

New details emerge about the attack conducted two weeks ago in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where a convoy of Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances was hit by the Israeli military, resulting in the deaths of 14 rescuers. Preliminary results of an internal investigation launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refute initial claims that the ambulances had their lights on and were clearly identifiable, contrary to the claims of the soldiers involved.

New evidence, including video footage published by the New York Times, prompted the Idf to correct its version. According to the investigation, led by Major General Yaniv Asor of the Southern Command, the shots were not fired at close range, ruling out the possibility of executions. After the attack, the military picked up the bodies and buried them, covering them with sand, to prevent them from being torn apart by animals, as required – the IDF claims – by operational practices during the fighting in Gaza.

The Israeli army also notified the United Nations of the exact location of the burial so that the bodies could be recovered. The entire report will be submitted to the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in the coming hours. The incident has sparked a strong wave of international outrage and could increase pressure on the Israeli army for greater transparency in its operations in the Strip.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)