Israel’s genocide in Gaza has resulted in an unprecedented number of aid workers being killed

Human rights investigators are still unable to access Gaza to monitor alleged war crimes

‘Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators’ - Erika Guevara Rosas

There must be an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances in which at least 15 Palestinian medics and rescue workers, who went to southern Gaza for a rescue operation, were shot dead after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicles, said Amnesty International today, reiterating calls for independent monitors to be granted immediate access to the occupied Gaza Strip.

Those killed included eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) health workers, one UNRWA staff member, and six members of the Palestinian Civil Defense. One further PRCS paramedic remains missing.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, said:

“These men were paramedics and rescue workers who put their lives on the line day after day, braving bombs and bullets, and working in harrowing conditions to save lives. The fact that they were killed while trying to rescue people is deeply distressing and an absolute tragedy.

“Medical personnel carrying out their humanitarian duties must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers are prohibited by international law and constitute war crimes.

“When medics and humanitarian workers are stopped from doing their lifesaving work, all victims of conflict suffer. These killings must be independently and impartially investigated, and the perpetrators must be held to account.”

Israel must allow access to human rights investigators

Amnesty will continue to investigate the details of this incident. Efforts to investigate violations and crimes under international law in Gaza continue to be severely hampered by Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, including its refusal to allow access to human rights investigators, including forensic experts.

Continuing, Erika Guevara Rosas said:

“Israeli authorities must not be allowed to continue to obstruct investigations into atrocity crimes, in defiance of legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice. They must immediately allow for impartial and independent investigations to be carried out and vital evidence to be collected and stored by professional investigators, including those mandated by the UN and the International Criminal Court, as well as those working for Palestinian and international human rights organisations. Without such investigations Israel is denying victims any prospect for justice and reparation.

“In light of Israel’s brazen defiance of international law, including the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, states cannot continue to remain silent and inactive. They have clear obligations to ensure Israel respects international humanitarian law and to bring an end to Israel’s genocide and other gross violations of international law against Palestinians. Every day of inaction is costing lives in Gaza and further emboldens perpetrators.”

Investigation needed

According to a member of the Palestinian Civil Defense interviewed by Amnesty, the victims had travelled to the Hashashin area in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip on 21 March on a joint rescue mission by PRCS and the Palestinian Civil defense. They had gone to the area to provide assistance to a number of wounded people, including a PRCS medic, Mustafa Khafaja, who himself had been injured after going to the area to provide first aid to people injured as a result of Israeli shelling. The PRCS crew had been missing for days before their bodies were found on 30 March in a mass grave after an agonising nine-day search. One of the paramedics was detained by Israeli forces and then released on 23 March.

The Israeli military said an initial inquiry found that its troops opened fire on vehicles it deemed “suspicious”, acknowledging that they had shot at Palestinian ambulances and fire trucks. Israeli forces had been in full control of the area at the time.

Amnesty will continue to investigate the details of this incident. Efforts to investigate violations and crimes under international law in Gaza continue to be severely hampered by Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, including its refusal to allow access to human rights investigators, including forensic experts.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has already resulted in an unprecedented number of aid workers being killed, the vast majority of whom are Palestinians. In total, since 7 October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, including at least 280 UNRWA staff and 34 PRCS staff.