TRANSCRIPT
“We’ve arrived at the site where the ambulances were hit. 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. We’re now looking for the bodies of those that were in these medical and humanitarian vehicles.”
On the 23rd of March, just over a week ago, a group of Red Crescent medics and other Palestinian rescue workers went missing in southern Gaza.
Their bodies have now been discovered, buried in what UN officials are describing as a 'mass grave'.
Jonathan Whittall is the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory.
He says the ambulances and civil defence vehicles were hit one by one.
“Health workers should never be a target and yet, we're here today, digging up a mass grave of first responders and paramedics. Seven days ago, Civil Defense 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. We're digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave. Their vehicles, their ambulances, UN vehicles, civil defence vehicles are crushed and dumped, covered in sand next to us. It's an absolute horror what has happened here. This should never happen, healthcare workers should never be a target.”
The Palestine Red Crescent says alongside the eight Red Crescent medics, they also recovered the bodies of six civil defence members and one United Nations worker.
One worker is still reported missing.
On Monday, the Israeli military said that on March 23, Israeli troops opened fire on a group of vehicles that included ambulances and fire trucks when the vehicles approached without prior coordination.
Israel's military is yet to comment directly on the killing of the Red Crescent workers, but tells Reuters news agency that it had facilitated what it describes as the 'evacuation of the bodies from the area'.
It did not respond to specific questions about why the bodies were buried beneath the sand nor why the vehicles were found crushed.
According to the United Nations, at least 1060 healthcare workers and 408 aid workers have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 2023.
Raed Al-Nimis is a spokesperson for the Red Crescent.
He says the workers were killed despite clearly being humanitarian workers.
“The process of retrieving the martyrs was carried out in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. And it became clear to us that they were killed in cold blood by the Israeli occupation, despite the clear nature of their humanitarian missions, as they were wearing uniforms bearing the crescent symbol, which is supposed to be protected under international humanitarian law. They were also riding in ambulances which show the nature of their first aid missions, but unfortunately they were killed in cold blood, for this to join the series of crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli occupation army during this aggression."
In Rafah, the Israeli military has commenced attacks on the city just hours after issuing sweeping evacuation orders.
According to Al Jazeera, two Palestinians have already been killed in the attacks, which Israel says are aimed at eliminating the 'capabilities of terrorist organisations'.
Since resuming full-scale attacks on Gaza, the United Nations Children's Fund says Israel has killed at least 322 children and injured over 600.
The orders came during Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Abdullah Abu Maghasib says there can be no celebration in these conditions.
"People, we are in the second day of Eid. On the second day of Eid, people celebrate, go out, and visit their relatives. We are unable to celebrate like other people. We are no less than other people. We are a peaceful people who love life and love peace. We don't want war. Enough with the genocide."
Meanwhile in Jerusalem, Israeli protesters are once again gathering outside the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli police have announced the arrest of two people, one of whom has been confirmed as a senior aide to the Prime Minister.
The arrests hike political tensions in the country, where the government is trying to fire both the domestic security chief and attorney general, while expanding the power of politicians over the appointment of judges.
Protesters are also rallying against the handling of the remaining Israeli hostages, with many fearing the resumption of strikes and aid restrictions will only endanger them further.
Among the protesters was Moshe Radman, who says Mr Netanyahu is attempting to create a dictatorship in Israel.
"The people of Israel want to bring back the hostages. And this government is leaving them in the hands of Hamas. The people of Israel want democracy, and this government is trying to create some kind of a dictatorship. So I'm here to tell the government, enough is enough. We want elections and we want Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to go home.”
Amid the mounting domestic pressures, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced his resignation from the cabinet.
The resignation is not expected to collapse Mr Netanyahu's coalition.
In the coming weeks, Mr Netanyahu is expected to visit Hungary for a meeting with Hungary's right-wing prime minister Viktor Orban.
The visit has been scheduled despite the fact that Mr Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on accusations of potential war crimes committed in Gaza.
EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni says all member states must cooperate with the courts.
"Our position is clear and is unwavering. The EU supports the International Criminal Court, and the principles set out in the Rome Statute. The EU respects the court's independence and impartiality, and we are strongly committed to international criminal justice and the fight against impunity. And allow me to recall here the Council conclusions of 2023, where the Council calls upon all states to ensure full cooperation with the courts, including by the prompt execution of outstanding arrest warrants and to enter into voluntary agreements. I think this is clear in terms of our position on the matter."
On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel is not hiding its intentions to implement Donald Trump's proposed plan for Gaza.
Days after taking office in January, Mr Trump floated a proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza, suggesting that Egypt or Jordan could take them in.
Both countries, along with other Arab allies, governments around the world and the Palestinians themselves, have flatly rejected the notion.
In response to Mr Netanyahu's demands for Hamas to disarm, a senior official from the group has urged supporters to take up arms and fight against what he says is a 'sinister plan'.
Anouar El-Anouni says the only way forward is diplomatic.
"The EU believes that the resumption of negotiations is the only way forward. The return to the ceasefire is essential, leading to the release of hostages and a permanent end to hostilities. Humanitarian aid, access and distribution, as well as the supply of electricity to Gaza must be resumed immediately. Palestinians and Israelis have suffered immensely in the last year and a half. It is time to break the cycle of violence."
