Israeli Military Fires at Rescue Vehicles in March After Mistakenly Identifying Them as Hamas Vehicles

April 21, 2025 TruthUSA

In Rafah on March 23, Israeli forces killed fifteen Palestinians in three separate incidents, according to the United Nations, who identified the victims as medics and rescue staff.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Sunday that they fired at ambulances in Gaza on March 23 because they believed these vehicles posed a threat to the IDF due to Hamas’s use of such vehicles to transport terrorists and weapons.

The IDF confirmed that in Gaza, fifteen Palestinians were shot and killed in three separate incidents, with six of them later identified as Hamas terrorists.

According to the IDF, the first incident involved firing at a vehicle belonging to Hamas terrorists, putting the troops on alert for more potential threats.

Surveillance revealed that ambulances and a fire truck stopped near the troops’ location an hour later, leading the soldiers to shoot at them under the belief that they posed an immediate threat.

The IDF admitted to mistaking the ambulances for Hamas vehicles and acknowledged that there were professional errors and violations of orders during the incident.

The IDF stated that they fired at a United Nations vehicle due to operational errors, and after an investigation, the commanding officer was reprimanded while the deputy commander was dismissed for misleading reporting.

The IDF expressed regret for harm caused to civilians and promised to strengthen protocols in areas with rescue teams, even in high-intensity combat zones.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on March 30 that fifteen Palestinians, identified as medics and rescue workers, were killed in Gaza.

Head of OCHA in the region, Jonathan Whittall, condemned the incident, stating, “It’s absolute horror what has happened here. This should never happen, healthcare workers should never be a target.”

Whittall accused Israeli forces of burying the victims’ bodies and vehicles in a mass grave with a bulldozer.

In a statement, the IDF defended their actions, saying they buried the bodies to prevent harm and removed the ambulances to clear the area for evacuations.

Israeli veterans’ group Breaking the Silence disputed the IDF’s investigation, claiming it was inconsistent and omitted key details.

The group cited footage showing the victims driving clearly marked ambulances with emergency lights on, contradicting the IDF’s initial report of the incident.

PRCS reported that one of their medics was being held by Israeli authorities following the incident and called for his immediate release.

Since Hamas’s attack on Southern Israel in 2023, Gaza has been in conflict, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.

The death toll in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry, has reached approximately 51,000, though the accuracy of these numbers is disputed.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary cease-fire in January, releasing prisoners, but resumed fighting in March after failed negotiations.

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