Our friends at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) just created released this powerful new video. It raises serious questions about the Israeli military’s narrative around the killing of 15 members of ambulances and Gaza relief teams. One of the murdered paramedics, Rifaat Radwan, had been live-streaming throughout the assault. Police found the video on his cell phone. The powerful footage takes you inside to experience the confusion and urgency of the evacuation. Through the noise, Radwan’s voice cuts through as he begins repeating the “shahada,” an invocation of faith that Muslims speak when facing death.
It happened in the course of one of these Israeli military operations. Unfortunately, the PRCS emphasizes that their crew was engaged in humanitarian activity at the time of the attack. The short film captures Radwan’s most heart-wrenching moments. Equally remarkable, it captures the voices of passengers in the mom’s convoy and the commands barked in Hebrew from the IDF soldiers. This audio evidence contradicts claims made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that the vehicles were acting suspiciously and lacked emergency signals.
At one point in the video, Radwan expresses his commitment to his vocation, stating, “Forgive me mom, this is the path I chose – to help people – I swear I didn’t choose this path but to help people.” His moving words show the commitment of emergency workers in conflict zones, frequently at great risk to their own lives to bring help to others.
Israeli officials have not provided evidence to support their assertion. Additionally, they claim that nine of these emergency workers murdered were actually militants affiliated with Hamas. The IDF had previously stated that “several uncoordinated vehicles were identified advancing suspiciously toward IDF troops without headlights or emergency signals.” This claim was supported by the testimony of soldiers involved in the attack.
Nonetheless, the PRCS has argued that their ambulances were well-marked and distinguishable as emergency vehicles. An Israeli military spokesperson told CNN that Israeli forces disposed of the workers’ bodies. They expected that coordinating their return with the PRCS and UN would take time. At time of writing, there has been no accountability or explanation given as to why these emergency vehicles were inappropriately buried as well.
This ongoing investigation into this incident includes footage from Israeli drone surveillance. To date, the public has not seen the specific footage that the authorities are claiming includes this evidence. That absence of transparency has invited international outrage after the tragedies that befell the emergency responders. In light of the video that has emerged, critics are loaded with questions about the IDF’s claims on what happened before the strike.
In response to questions about the incident, an IDF spokesperson stated that forces had made “a preliminary examination.” They concluded that they killed Mohammad Amin Ibrahim Shubaki, a Hamas military operative, and eight other members of alleged terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who had participated in prior attacks. They failed to show evidence of their identities.
The Israeli military maintains that all claims related to this incident will be “thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation.” However, as accountability grows over their controversial internal choices, peers and comics alike are starting to wonder whether this story holds water.
Radwan’s video provides some of the most haunting audio that will echo for five additional minutes beyond the completion of the video. This enduring influence on audiences introduces serious ethical considerations for the military when operating in civilian environments.
As the investigations continue, both sides dig in even deeper. The PRCS is demanding accountability for what it describes as a blatant attack on humanitarian workers, while Israeli officials stand by their claims of having targeted militants amidst a chaotic battlefield.
