The IDF has released findings on the killing of 15 Palestinian aid workers | Photo: PH888/Shutterstock
The Israeli Defense Forces admitted this Sunday to operational failures, failure to fully report the incident and breaches of orders in the March 23 massacre of 15 unarmed Palestinian aid workers.
In a statement released Sunday, the IDF command said one commanding officer would receive a reprimand, and a deputy commander would be dismissed. The IDF said that after it’s examination of the incident that sparked global outrage, “the Chief of the General Staff emphasized the commitment to continuing the fight against Hamas while upholding IDF values, operational discipline, and orders.”
In their conclusions, investigators “identified several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to report the incident fully.” They also said the Chief of the General Staff and the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, Eyal Zamir, has accepted the findings and recommendations. “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 statement said. It does not name the CO.
However, earlier this month, the Guardian reported that during the Rafah attack, the Golani troops were under the command of the reservist Armoured 14th Brigade, which is part of a division led by Brig Gen Yehuda Vach.
Israel’s designated kill zone
Former Israeli officers claim he is responsible for designating an unofficial “kill zone” elsewhere in the strip, which resulted in the arbitrary killings of Palestinian civilians. Soldiers also alleged Vach’s “lack of operational discipline” endangered soldiers’ lives, the Guardian article states..
Despite saying he is highly respected, “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.”
‘You will regret’ firing the deputy commander
The dismissal of this officer has sparked condemnation from officials and reservists.
“The decision to remove the deputy commander of the Golani reconnaissance unit from his position is a serious mistake. You will regret it,” said National Security Minister Ben-Gvir. The Israeli Reservists – Generation of Victory movement, representing thousands of reservists, also condemned the dismissal.
According to a CNN report, Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, who participated in the investigations, said he believes the commander who ordered troops to open fire “acted reasonably” and under IDF rules of engagement. “There was no evidence of any unethical or immoral conduct by the forces,” Har-Even told CNN.
Stopping short of admitting wrongdoing
Har-Even admitted mistakes were committed during a 90-minute briefing after the statement was released. However, he stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing.
“It’s a mistake. It can happen tomorrow – I hope it will not happen – unfortunately it happened,” Har-Even said. “The orders are excellent. We don’t shoot at an ambulance unless they are clearly identified terrorists, or we understand that someone feels a threat from people who are coming from the ambulance.”
Autopsy reports for the eight Palestinian medics obtained by CNN show that gunshot wounds killed most to the head or chest, while others suffered from shrapnel wounds to the torso from the force of an explosive injury.
Conflicting reports, lack of evidence
Initially, the IDF claimed the vehicles were driving suspiciously without headlights or emergency signals. That was confirmed to be false, as photos showed the convoy in a single file and with their lights on.
The 15 Palestinian paramedics and other rescue workers were killed in three separate shootings at the same location near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. They were buried in a common grave where their bodies were found a week later by officials from the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The IDF also initially tried to justify the killing, saying the paramedics were all Hamas terrorists. However, they never provided any proof.
