Israeli troops opened fire on ambulances because of 'perceived threat', preliminary IDF investigation says

Israeli troops opened fire on a group of vehicles in Gaza including ambulances due to a "perceived threat following a previous encounter in the area", a preliminary IDF inquiry has said.

Fifteen emergency workers were killed in the incident near the southern city of Rafah on 23 March.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the early investigation indicated six of those who died "were identified as Hamas terrorists".

The IDF also said in a statement: "All the claims raised regarding the incident will be examined through the mechanism and presented in a detailed and thorough manner for a decision on how to handle the event."

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has demanded an independent investigation into the "atrocious" deaths of the aid workers.

The group's president, Dr Younis al Khatib, said he had asked the UN Security Council to form an investigation committee into the "intentional killing of the medics".

In response to Sky's Alistair Bunkall, spokesman David Mencer claimed the killings were the result of Hamas hiding among civilians and using them as human shields.

But speaking in Ramallah, Dr al Khatib said those responsible must be held "accountable for these crimes" via international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention.

"It's not enough to comfort us with condolences and nice words of investigation and accountability. There has to be action taken," he added.

He urged an "independent and thorough investigation of this atrocious crime" and that "no one should be above the law".

"So many questions being asked of the Israelis," he said.

"Why were they killed? Why did you destroy the ambulances after killing them? Why did you try to dig deep and hide the ambulances? They have to answer for that."

It comes after footage at the weekend showed the moment the aid workers were killed, with ambulances and fire insignia clearly visible and red lights flashing.

The paramedic filming, later found with a bullet in his head, is heard saying there are Israelis present and reciting a declaration of faith often used before someone dies.

He adds: "Forgive me, mother, this is the path I chose mother, to help people, forgive me, mother, I swear I chose this path only to help people."

The Israeli military originally claimed the vehicles - which were travelling north of Rafah on 23 March - didn't have headlights or emergency signals on and were targeted as they looked "suspicious".

An IDF investigation is ongoing, but an Israeli government spokesman claimed on Monday that "six Hamas terrorists" were among those killed.

Mr Mencer said: "IDF soldiers opened fire at a distance at vehicles moving suspiciously in their direction.

"Among the dead were six Hamas terrorists - what were Hamas terrorists doing in ambulances? The incident was reported in real time to UN officials."

He claimed there were "many documented occasions" when Hamas had used ambulances as cover.

An evacuation order was also in place at the time, which meant moving vehicles were prohibited, according to Israel.

The head of the UN's humanitarian affairs office, Jonathan Whittall, said the 15 people were found in a "mass grave" in the sand.

He said those killed comprised eight members of the PRCS, six civil defence members and one UN employee.

Dylan Winder, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said it was "outraged at the deaths" and that "even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules".

"They were humanitarians. They wore emblems that should have been protected. Their ambulances were clearly marked, and they should have returned to their families. They did not," he said.

(c) Sky News 2025: Israeli troops opened fire on ambulances because of 'perceived threat', preliminary