Gaza civil defence accuses Israeli army of summary executions in Rafah

Gaza rescue agency rejects Israeli military probe, alleges summary executions of medics in March 23 Rafah incident.

Palestinians examine the aftermath at an ambulance repair yard struck by Israeli airstrikes in the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, on March 24, 2025. Photo by Eyad Baba/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Gaza's civil defence agency on Monday directly accused the Israeli military of conducting summary executions during a March 23 incident in Rafah, where 15 medics and rescue personnel were killed. The accusation came in response to the Israeli army’s internal probe, which concluded that while operational failures occurred, there was no evidence of deliberate executions or indiscriminate fire.

The incident occurred amid the renewed Israeli offensive in southern Gaza, particularly near Rafah, a densely populated area and one of the last refuges for displaced Palestinians in the conflict-ravaged enclave. The victims included eight members of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, six civil defence workers, and one staff member from UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Allegations of extrajudicial killings

Mohammed Al-Mughair, a senior official with Gaza’s civil defence, dismissed the Israeli military's findings and instead accused them of intentionally killing unarmed humanitarian workers.

"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," Al-Mughair said in a statement to AFP. He added that the army was attempting to “circumvent” its obligations under international law.

The footage, which was recovered from a paramedic's phone, does not depict the actual shooting but provides crucial contextual evidence. According to the Red Crescent, the video shows the ambulances operating with full lights and sirens—contradicting the Israeli military’s original claim that the vehicles had been moving suspiciously without signaling.

Israeli probe admits operational failure

On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released the findings of an internal investigation into the Rafah shootings. The report stated that no evidence was found to support claims of summary executions or indiscriminate gunfire. However, the military acknowledged a breakdown in operational conduct and announced that a field commander involved would be dismissed.

The probe revised initial claims that nine of those killed were militants, stating instead that six were linked to militant activity. However, this reclassification did little to quell criticism.

The military further revealed that the bodies of the deceased had been buried under sand by Israeli troops and were only recovered several days later. OCHA described the location of the burial as a “mass grave,” raising serious concerns about the treatment of the victims and the handling of their remains.

Outcry from humanitarian groups

The Palestine Red Crescent Society rejected the military’s findings in their entirety, calling the report “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," said Nebal Farsakh, the group’s spokesperson.

The Red Crescent has maintained that their team was operating solely in a humanitarian capacity, responding to distress calls in the area under clear markings and protocols recognized under international humanitarian law.

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Turk, also weighed in on the matter, expressing deep concern about the incident and stating that such actions could amount to war crimes.

Timeline of the Rafah incident

According to the Israeli report, the deadly sequence unfolded in three separate shooting incidents on March 23.

The first occurred when IDF troops fired on a vehicle they believed to be associated with Hamas militants. Roughly an hour later, the second incident unfolded when troops opened fire on individuals “emerging from a fire truck and ambulances.” The third involved troops firing on a UN-marked vehicle due to what the military labeled “operational errors in breach of regulations.”

The army admitted that the killings in the first two incidents were the result of a serious “operational misunderstanding.” In the case of the UN vehicle, the breach was described as a violation of standing orders and protocol.

Despite this admission, the Israeli military insisted that none of the shootings were carried out with intent to target civilians or humanitarian workers.

A pattern of disputed narratives

This isn’t the first time that Israel's military operations in Gaza have drawn criticism from humanitarian organizations and international observers. Throughout the ongoing conflict, numerous allegations of disproportionate force and failure to protect civilian infrastructure have emerged, particularly in areas under heavy bombardment.

While Israel has repeatedly asserted its right to self-defense in response to Hamas attacks, critics argue that it has not sufficiently adhered to principles of proportionality and distinction under international law.

The March 23 killings in Rafah have once again thrown a spotlight on the challenges of accountability in active conflict zones, where rapid military decisions can result in civilian casualties and unclear chains of responsibility.

Calls for independent investigation

Human rights groups and several UN officials have called for an independent, international investigation into the Rafah killings. They argue that the Israeli military’s self-investigation lacks credibility and transparency, especially given the gravity of the accusations.

In past cases, Israeli internal investigations have been criticized for clearing soldiers of wrongdoing, even when video or eyewitness testimony contradicted official statements.

The United Nations and numerous humanitarian NGOs are now pressing for international observers to be granted access to Gaza to verify events and ensure that those responsible for any unlawful killings are held to account.

Ongoing tensions and implications

The fallout from the Rafah incident has heightened already intense international scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The region remains under siege, with infrastructure in ruins, hospitals overwhelmed, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

The incident has also added fuel to the ongoing debate over the legality and morality of Israel’s military tactics in densely populated civilian areas.

If independent investigations corroborate Gaza civil defence’s claims of summary executions, it could lead to mounting pressure for international sanctions or legal action against Israeli officials, including potential cases brought before the International Criminal Court.

For now, the conflicting narratives persist: the Israeli military maintains its stance that mistakes were made but not crimes, while Gaza’s civil defence and international humanitarian bodies see the deaths of the 15 medics as a targeted attack on those trying to save lives.

As calls for justice grow louder, the fate of accountability in Gaza hangs in the balance.