Israel fires deputy commander as it releases report into deadly IDF attack on aid workers in Gaza
A deputy commander in the Israeli military has been fired after an investigation found "operational misunderstandings" led to the deaths of 15 aid workers by the IDF in Gaza.
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A report into the incident was released by Israel on Sunday and listed "several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident".
The incident saw fourteen emergency workers and a UN worker killed when the convoy of Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances, a UN vehicle and a fire truck from Gaza's Civil Defence came under fire from IDF soldiers in Gaza on March 23.
The aid workers were buried in a shallow grave and lay there until United Nations workers discovered the scene a week later.
Israel had initially claimed that the medics' vehicles did not have their emergency signals turned on when troops opened fire.
The IDF was then seen to backtrack on its record of events, after video evidence contradicting Israels account was discovered on a mobile phone belonging to one of the medics shot dead in the attack.
The video evidence clearly showed the marked vehicles with their lights operational, and signage defining them as doctors.
The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations distributed the video to the UN Security Council.
The Associated Press obtained the video from a UN diplomat.
One paramedic who survived, Munzer Abed, confirmed the veracity of the video to the AP.
The military investigation found that the deputy battalion commander, "due to poor night visibility", assessed that the ambulances belonged to Hamas militants.
Video footage obtained from the incident shows the ambulances had lights flashing and logos visible, as they pulled up to help an ambulance that had come under fire earlier.
In a statement, an IDF spokesman said: "The Commanding Officer of the 14th Brigade will receive a reprimand, which will be recorded in his personal file, for his overall responsibility for the incident, including the procedure of combat and management of the scene afterward.
"The deputy commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion will be dismissed from his position due to his responsibilities as the field commander in this incident and for providing an incomplete and inaccurate report during the debrief."
In the days that followed the killings, Israeli military officials announced they were launching an investigation into the incident.
Initial accounts said IDF soldiers had “mistakenly” identified the paramedics as a threat and that the incident was under “thorough investigation”.
A spokesperson said the report would see all claims “examined thoroughly and in depth in order to understand the conduct of the incident”.
The release of the report comes hours after Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the war will continue 'as long as Hamas is able to control Gaza'.
It follows reports from the region suggesting Israeli strikes have killed more than 90 people in the region over the past 48 hours.
Israel's President doubled down on demands during a pre-recorded national address on Saturday, insisting his country would not pause fighting until Hamas was eradicated.
It comes just hours after Gaza's Health Ministry confirmed the rising death toll in the region.
Recent days have seen Israeli troops increase attacks in the region, putting pressure on Hamas to release its hostages and disarm.