In recent weeks the United Nations has documented 18 of these attacks. Israeli forces killed three of these Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, including in the Tel al-Sultan district of southern Gaza. The incident, described by the UN as the “single most deadly attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers anywhere since 2017,” has raised international concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers in conflict zones. Victims were shot “one at a time,” and later buried in mass graves. Among them were eight members of the Red Crescent, six of civil defense and one UN employee.
When the Red Crescent first considered the Tel al-Sultan district a safe space. Communities of color had the ability to move freely without fear, concern, or careful planning. On March 23, an ambulance deployed across the entire district. It was just recovering from the casualties of an early morning airstrike. The Palestinian Red Crescent appealed for a second ambulance to bolster their operations and protect those affected. Tragically, the dispatched teams became targets themselves.
“Seven days ago, civil defence and PRCS ambulances arrived at the scene. One by one, they were hit, they were struck. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave.” – Jonathan Whittall
UN investigators said the bodies were disposed of in a mass grave by a bulldozer under the command of Israeli forces. A UN vehicle was partly buried in the sand, showing the horrible aftermath. Nearby, the husks of emergency vehicles—including ambulances and a fire truck—contributed to the visual devastation.
“These ambulances have been buried in the sand. There’s a UN vehicle here, buried in the sand. A bulldozer – Israeli forces bulldozer – has buried them.” – Jonathan Whittall
The burial of the bodies, which had been postponed awaiting autopsies, were finally undertaken eight days ago. According to Younis al-Khatib, president of the Palestinian Red Crescent, the IDF was responsible for the 20-hour delay. These barriers have greatly affected their business practices.
“What is certain and very clear is that they were shot in the upper parts of their bodies, then gathered in a hole one on top of another, with sand thrown over them and buried,” – Jonathan Whittall
The multilateral institution has already stated that it is alarmed by the occurrence of these events. In reaction, it declared an immediate one-third cut to its international personnel in Gaza to protect them.
“The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, and that other emergency and aid crews were struck one after another over several hours as they searched for their missing colleagues.” – Jens Laerke
Philippe Lazzarini of the UN expressed outrage over the attack. He stated how these killings violate the very notion of human dignity at its core.
“The body of our colleague killed in Rafah was retrieved yesterday, together with the aid workers from [the Palestinian Red Crescent] – all of them discarded in shallow graves – a profound violation of human dignity,” – Philippe Lazzarini
Jagan Chapagain said he was profoundly saddened and stressed the humanitarian mission of the workers who died.
“I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians,” – Jagan Chapagain
Additionally, the IDF announced that they had killed nine members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad during their raids. This latest attack on humanitarian workers has received international outrage, condemnation, and calls for justice from entities such as the U.N. and human rights organizations.