Video footage seems to contradict Israeli account of Gaza medic killings

[ad_1] Cell phone footage has emerged that seems to contradict Israel's account of why troopers opened fireplace on a convoy of ambulances and a fireplace truck, killing 15 rescue employees.

The video printed by the New York Instances, and stated to have been filmed by a Palestine Pink Crescent Society (PRCS) paramedic who was killed, reveals the automobiles transferring in darkness with headlights and emergency flashing lights switched on early on the morning of 23 March - earlier than coming below fireplace.

The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) preliminary assertion stated "a number of uncoordinated automobiles had been recognized advancing suspiciously towards IDF troops with out headlights or emergency indicators. IDF troops then opened fireplace on the suspected automobiles."

A surviving paramedic beforehand informed the BBC that the ambulances had been clearly marked and had their inner and exterior lights on.

The IDF has been approached for remark in regards to the video, which the PRCS stated had been proven to the UN Safety Council.

The video reveals the marked automobiles drawing to a halt on the sting of the highway, lights nonetheless flashing, and a minimum of two emergency employees stepping out sporting reflective clothes.

The windscreen of the automobile being filmed from is cracked and taking pictures can then be heard lasting for a number of minutes because the particular person filming says prayers. He's understood to be one of many useless paramedics.

The footage was discovered on his cellphone after his physique was recovered from a shallow grave one week after the incident. The our bodies of the eight paramedics, six Gaza Civil Defence employees and one UN worker had been discovered buried in sand, together with their wrecked automobiles. It took worldwide organisations days to barter secure entry to the location.

Israel claimed a lot of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been killed within the incident, however it has not supplied any proof or additional defined the risk to its troops.

Israel's International Minister Gideon Saar earlier this week echoed the military account, saying "the IDF didn't randomly assault an ambulance".

The IDF promised to analyze the circumstances after a surviving paramedic questioned its account.

In an interview with the BBC, paramedic Munther Abed stated: "Throughout day and at evening, it is the identical factor. Exterior and inner lights are on. Every little thing tells you it is an ambulance automobile that belongs to the Palestinian Pink Crescent. All lights had been on till the automobile got here below direct fireplace."

He additionally denied he or his staff had any militant connections.

"All crews are civilian. We do not belong to any militant group. Our principal obligation is to supply ambulance companies and save folks's lives. No extra, no much less," he stated.

Talking on the United Nations yesterday the President of the PRCS, Dr Younis Al-Khatib, referred to the video recording, saying: "I heard the voice of a kind of staff members who was killed. His final phrases earlier than being shot…'forgive me mum, I simply needed to assist folks. I needed to avoid wasting lives'. It is heartbreaking".