Israel Says It Offered ‘Mistaken’ Initial Account of Gaza Medic Killings

Israel said it offered a “mistaken” explanation on the killing of what the United Nations (UN) and some media outlets claim were 15 Palestinian aid workers when its soldiers fired on vehicles last month in southern Gaza.

Initial Statement: Israel initially said that on March 23, “several uncoordinated vehicles were identified advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals” and that its soldiers killed nine “terrorists… exploiting medical facilities and equipment.” 

New Evidence: A week later, the United Nations (UN) and Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) discovered what they said were 15 aid workers buried in a mass grave. A video recovered from the phone of one of the dead and published by The New York Times (Lean Left bias) showed men in PRCS vehicles arriving on a scene to investigate what they ostensibly thought was an “accident.” PRCS medic Munther Abed was the only known survivor of the incident and said he saw soldiers open fire on their emergency vehicles.

Updated Statement: An Israeli military official said on April 5 that Israel’s official account of the situation was “mistaken” and that investigators were reviewing the video. According to The Times of Israel (Center), the official said Israel believes at least six of the 15 killed were Hamas operatives.

How The Media Covered It: The New York Times emphasized Israel’s repetition of its original narrative and reluctance to go into detail on its updated statement. The Telegraph (Lean Right) shared many details and quotes from the PRCS and UN’s side of the story. The Telegraph reported, “Eight members of the PRCS were killed, as were six civil defense members and one UN employee.”

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