Israel probe finds no 'indiscriminate fire' in killing of Gaza medics

An Israeli military investigation on Sunday concluded that its troops did not use "indiscriminate fire" in the killing of 15 emergency responders in Gaza, but found failures and announced plans to dismiss a field commander.

The paramedics and emergency workers were shot dead by Israeli forces while on a rescue mission on 23 March near the southern Gaza city of Rafah and buried in a shallow grave where their bodies were found a week later by officials from the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS).

Initially, the military claimed that soldiers opened fire on vehicles approaching their position in the dark without emergency lights or markings, deeming them "suspicious". 

However, video footage recovered from the mobile phone of one of the victims and released by the PRCS contradicted this account. The video showed emergency workers in uniform, operating clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with lights on, being fired upon by soldiers.

The military said on Sunday that a commanding officer would to be reprimanded for his "overall responsibility for the incident". A deputy commander would be dismissed due to being the field commander and for providing an "incomplete and inaccurate report" of the incident.

Read more: Israel probe finds no 'indiscriminate fire' in killing of Gaza medics