The UN’s humanitarian agency, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), and Gaza’s civil defense have firmly rejected a report published by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) blaming “professional failures” for the killing of 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers in Rafah last month.

Eight PRCS paramedics, six civil defense members, and one UNRWA employee were found with gunshot wounds to the head and torso, along with injuries caused by explosives, according to the doctor who performed autopsies on their bodies. 

The victims and their vehicles were later discovered buried in a sandy mass grave by Israeli forces. After exhuming the bodies, the United Nations stated the workers appeared to have been “executed one by one.”

IOF 'trying to circumvent international law'

Initially, the IOF claimed the ambulances were not displaying emergency signals at the time of the attack, but later retracted this after mobile footage disproved their account. On Sunday, the IOF stated that an internal probe had uncovered “several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident.”

Gaza’s Civil Defense dismissed the findings, accusing the occupation forces of fabricating excuses to justify what they described as deliberate attacks on humanitarian convoys.

Mohammed al-Mughair, a senior Civil Defense official, said, “The video filmed by one of the paramedics proves that the Israeli occupation’s narrative is false and demonstrates that it carried out summary executions," stressing that the IOF was trying to “circumvent” international law.

UN, humanitarian groups demand accountability

Jonathan Whittall, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Gaza, criticized the investigation as insufficient. “A lack of real accountability undermines international law and makes the world a more dangerous place,” he warned. “Without accountability, we risk continuing to watch atrocities unfolding.”

Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the PRCS, condemned the report, stating, “The report is full of lies. It is invalid and unacceptable, as it justifies the killing and shifts responsibility to a personal error in the field command when the truth is quite different.” The PRCS has reiterated calls for an international investigation.

The IOF alleged disciplinary action, including the dismissal of the Golani Brigade’s deputy commander and a reprimand of another officer, and claimed the killings were due to “poor night visibility” and violations of orders.