MAP and Al Mezan reject Israel’s whitewash of the killing of 15 first responders, and demand genuine international accountability

23 April 2025

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan) categorically reject the findings of the Israeli military’s investigation into the 23 March killing of 15 Palestinian humanitarian and rescue workers by Israeli forces in Rafah. The Israeli military’s self-exonerating report appears designed to whitewash atrocities and shield perpetrators, not to deliver justice.

Dismissing the killings of first responders, many of whom were shot in the head and torso, as “professional failures” and “breaches of order” represents a gross distortion of reality and a clear attempt to deflect institutional responsibility. Evidence, including video footage, confirms that the convoy of ambulances was visibly marked and operating with lights flashing, making Israeli claims of misidentification due to “poor night visibility” indefensible. 

As of time of publishing, the only surviving member of the targeted rescue team, Palestine Red Crescent Society medic Assad Al-Nsasrah, remains held in Israeli custody. He is one of approximately 300 healthcare workers abducted by the Israeli military since October 2023, many of whom have reported severe torture, abuse, and inhumane conditions.

This attack was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a systematic pattern of targeting health workers and facilities by Israeli forces that an independent UN Commission of Inquiry found amounts to the crime against humanity of extermination. These deliberate acts and apparent crimes under international law must be urgently, transparently and independently investigated. 

Israel’s military investigation system has consistently and repeatedly proven itself unwilling or unable to conduct genuine investigations into alleged serious international crimes, systematically denying Palestinians any prospect of justice or accountability. As reported by Yesh Din, of 664 reviewed complaints transferred to the military concerning Israel’s military assaults on Gaza in 2014 and 2021 and the Great March of Return, where the outcome is known, just 0.17% led to prosecution. Such a system is neither credible, transparent, nor impartial, and it must not be recognised as legitimate.

At the same time, Israel’s persistent refusal to allow the entry of independent international investigators to Gaza demonstrates its entrenched impunity. Our organisations have warned since 2015 that this systemic impunity fosters the recurrence of attacks, the foreseeable consequences of which are being borne out in Israel’s systematic dismantling of the healthcare system in Gaza seen today. 

Given clear evidence that the Israeli authorities systematically shield perpetrators of apparent international crimes, all international legal avenues must be urgently pursued to uphold victims’ rights to justice and prevent further atrocities. 

Breaking this culture of impunity requires decisive and effective action by the international community to achieve meaningful accountability, including by: 

• Supporting genuine international investigations into, and legal accountability for, military attacks on medical personnel and infrastructure, as a way to prevent future violations and to provide justice; 
• Independently monitoring, assessing and making public findings on the compliance of Israel’s internal investigations with the core international standards of independence, impartiality, thoroughness, effectiveness, transparency and promptness; and the extent to which these investigations have resulted in legal accountability and justice for victims, survivors and their families; 
• Supporting efforts to strengthen compliance with international law regarding the protection of healthcare personnel and infrastructure, including through monitoring the compliance ensuring respect for UN Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) on healthcare in armed conflict.

States must further impose an immediate end to all arms transfers to Israel, and take concrete steps to enforce an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation.

_{(Photo credit: Palestine Red Crescent Society).}