On April 5, 2025, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) released a video recovered from the cellphone of aid worker Rifat Radwan, who was among 15 humanitarian personnel killed by Israeli forces on March 23 in Rafah, Gaza. The six-minute and 42-second footage depicts clearly marked ambulances and a firetruck with headlights and emergency lights activated, traveling at night amid continuous automatic gunfire. The vehicles stop beside another on the roadside, and two uniformed men exit; shortly thereafter, a volley of gunfire erupts, and the screen goes black.
The Israeli military asserted that their soldiers did not randomly attack ambulances but targeted “terrorists” approaching in “suspicious vehicles” without prior clearance and with lights off. However, the PRCS contends that the video contradicts these claims, showing the ambulances with lights on and emergency signals active. The PRCS stated, “This video unequivocally refutes the occupation’s claims… The footage exposes the truth and dismantles this false narrative.”
The United Nations reported that the 15 aid workers, including members of the Red Crescent, Gaza’s Civil Defense, and a UNRWA staffer, were killed in the incident. The UN also noted that the bodies were found in a mass grave, with some showing signs of being shot at close range. The Israeli military has stated that the incident is under investigation and pledged a thorough examination of all claims and footage.
This development has intensified scrutiny of the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, particularly concerning the targeting of humanitarian personnel. The PRCS and other organizations are calling for accountability and a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the aid workers.