An internal Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation has concluded that professional failures and operational misunderstandings led to the tragic deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics and first responders in Gaza this past March. The report, released Sunday, reveals a grim but complex picture of battlefield chaos in which Hamas terrorists cynically exploited humanitarian vehicles as cover during active combat.
The casualties, most affiliated with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), were killed when Israeli forces, believing they faced a tangible threat, opened fire. Although the PRCS has not been formally designated as a terror organization, it has long been criticized for enabling terrorist escape and transport operations, particularly during active firefights where PRCS ambulances were used as shields and getaway vehicles for Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives.
🚨The IDF has completed its investigation into the ambulance incident. Here’s what you need to know:
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) April 20, 2025
1️⃣ Incident occurred in a “hostile and dangerous combat zone,” where Hamas regularly uses ambulances to transport terrorists and weapons.
2️⃣ “No evidence” to support “false”… pic.twitter.com/KF9PrnxXm0
During the current war, evidence has emerged that Hamas has further infiltrated PRCS ranks, with operatives posing as paramedics and drivers to move fighters and smuggle weapons under the protection of internationally recognized medical insignias — a grotesque violation of humanitarian law.
Multiple Failures Identified
The IDF probe exposed a series of failures:
- Breaches of engagement protocols by field commanders.
- Incomplete and inaccurate after-action reports that initially masked the full scope of the incident.
- Failure to properly identify targets, exacerbated by poor night-time visibility and the fog of war.
The IDF General Staff investigation into the March 23 Rafah incident found errors in the killing of 15 Palestinians, including paramedics. The force mistakenly identified ambulances and a UN vehicle as threats. One shot was deemed a violation of orders.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 20, 2025
A command remark was… pic.twitter.com/7wYUTNbVGV
The IDF stressed that there was no indiscriminate fire, but acknowledged that soldiers believed they were confronting immediate threats. Nonetheless, consequences were swift:
- The commanding officer of the 14th Brigade received a formal reprimand.
- The deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion was dismissed for operational lapses and failing to provide an accurate account of the incident.
“The IDF regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians," the military said in a statement, while emphasizing that protocols have now been reinforced to ensure greater caution near rescue forces, even under intense battlefield conditions.
How the Incident Unfolded
On the night of March 23, IDF troops engaged in three separate shooting incidents:
First engagement: Soldiers fired on a vehicle believed to belong to Hamas, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinians and the detention of one individual.
Second engagement – The Tragedy: Roughly an hour later, Israeli troops opened fire on a convoy of ambulances and Civil Defense vehicles operated by the PRCS, killing 15 first responders.
What happened on March 23: read the full summary of the investigation, conducted by the General Staff Fact Finding Mechanism, into the incident involving rescue teams and vehicles in Gaza: https://t.co/GFapB5xLeH
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 20, 2025
- Cell phone footage later revealed that the ambulances were traveling in an orderly, single-file formation with lights on — contradicting initial IDF claims of suspicious behavior.
- Autopsy reports showed most of the paramedics were killed by gunshots to the head or chest, and others by shrapnel wounds.
Third engagement: A United Nations vehicle was mistakenly targeted, further highlighting the severe operational misjudgments that night.
In the investigation's aftermath, the IDF acknowledged that six of the 15 killed were identified after the fact as Hamas operatives, suggesting that at least part of the convoy was used by terrorists as human shields. However, the military has not released names or evidence yet tying specific individuals to Hamas activities.
A Grim Aftermath
Following the tragic incidents, the bodies of the dead — along with their destroyed vehicles — were removed and buried hastily in a mass grave. The IDF defended the decision to remove bodies during ongoing operations but admitted that crushing the ambulances was an operational error.
"There was no attempt to cover up the incident," the IDF said, noting that they coordinated the removal efforts with international organizations and the UN.
Despite the IDF’s transparency and investigation, the PRCS and Palestinian authorities immediately labeled the attack a "war crime", accusing Israel of violating international humanitarian law — allegations that Israel firmly rejects given the reality of Hamas' tactics on the battlefield.
The PRCS has refused to comment on the Israeli findings.
