In the fog of war, truth is often the first casualty. Recent developments regarding a tragic incident in Gaza on March 23, 2025, have brought this adage into sharp focus, as emerging evidence challenges initial official accounts. A harrowing video recovered from the phone of a slain paramedic has sparked international scrutiny and forced a reassessment of what happened when 15 aid workers lost their lives in southern Gaza.
The Incident: What We Know
Before dawn on March 23, in Tel al-Sultan, a district in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a convoy of clearly marked emergency vehicles was targeted by Israeli gunfire. The casualties included eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers, and one UN staffer, with one medic, Assaad al-Nassasra, still reported missing according to the Red Crescent AP News1.
The vehicles were responding to an earlier call about an ambulance that had come under fire. What happened next was captured in stark detail by the phone of Rifat Radwan, one of the paramedics who would not survive the encounter.
The Video Evidence: Moments Before Tragedy
[Note: This section includes descriptions of video content that some readers may find disturbing]
The recovered mobile phone footage, released by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, provides a visceral window into the final moments before the attack. The video shows:
- A convoy of clearly marked emergency vehicles with flashing red lights and visible logos driving through the night
- Ambulances and a red firetruck stopping beside one another on a roadside
- Two uniformed medics exiting their vehicles moments before intense gunfire erupts
- The screen going dark as the shooting intensifies, while the audio continues
In the background, viewers can hear voices of the medics – one saying, "The vehicle, the vehicle," and another responding: "It seems to be an accident." Seconds later, a volley of gunfire breaks out Al Jazeera2.
Perhaps most harrowing are the final words of Rifat Radwan, who can be heard reciting the Islamic declaration of faith (Shahada) as the gunfire continues. He is also heard saying: "Forgive me mother because I chose this way, the way of helping people," and "Accept my martyrdom, God, and forgive me." Just before the video ends, he says: "The Jews are coming, the Jews are coming," apparently referring to approaching Israeli soldiers Al Jazeera2.
Video Evidence: Several media outlets including The New York Times3, BBC4, Sky News5, and Al Jazeera6 have published verified portions of this footage, which stands in stark contrast to initial military accounts.
The Military's Changing Account
In light of the video evidence, the Israeli military has modified its initial narrative. An Israeli military official admitted late on Saturday that "the person who gives the initial account is mistaken. We're trying to understand why" Reuters7.
The military initially stated that its soldiers had opened fire on vehicles that approached their position "suspiciously" in the dark without lights or markings. However, the recovered phone footage clearly shows the Red Crescent and Civil Defense teams driving with their emergency lights flashing and logos visible BBC News8.
The military now acknowledges that the ambulances were clearly identifiable and had their lights on, contrary to earlier claims Sky News9. According to reports, the investigation continues, with conclusions expected to be presented to army commanders.
Evidence of Execution-Style Killings
According to Gaza's civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal, several members of their team were found with their hands and feet bound and visible bullet wounds on their heads and torsos, suggesting they were executed at close range after being identified for their humanitarian work Al Jazeera2.
The report indicates that one of the civil defence personnel had been decapitated, and the remaining bodies were found in pieces. Jonathan Whittall, the head of OCHA in the Palestinian territory, said the bodies of the humanitarian workers were "in their uniforms, still wearing gloves" when they were found.
The Aftermath: Mass Grave and Recovery
The aftermath of the attack revealed further disturbing details. Jonathan Whittall, an official with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the scene where the bodies were found: "One by one they were hit, they were struck. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave. They were here to save lives. Instead, they ended up in a mass grave... It's an absolute horror what happened here" NPR10.
Video Testimony: The BBC has published video testimony11 from UN officials at the site where the bodies were recovered, showing the aftermath of the attack and the profound impact on humanitarian operations in the region.
The Israeli military stated that the bodies were buried in sand to protect them from animals, and were later recovered by aid teams after international agencies arranged safe passage BBC News8. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, particularly after reports that some bodies showed signs of execution.
Survivor Testimony
One survivor, Munzer Abed, a 10-year veteran of the Red Crescent, has provided additional perspective on the events. He recounted being dragged from his ambulance, beaten, and interrogated by Israeli troops AP News1.
Video Interview: Sky News has published an interview with a surviving paramedic12 who challenges the Israeli military's account, providing firsthand testimony of the events on March 23.
Calls for Independent Investigation
The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younes Al-Khatib, has called for an independent investigation into the attack, stating plainly: "We don't trust any of the army investigations" AP News1.
Both the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent have demanded an independent inquiry into the killing of the paramedics, reflecting concerns about the handling of the incident and skepticism over the official military narrative Reuters7.
Broader Context: Aid Worker Safety in Gaza
This incident is part of a troubling pattern. According to the UN, 408 aid workers have been killed in more than 17 months of war in Gaza NPR10. The recent killings occurred as Israel renewed its aerial bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza on March 18, after the first phase of a ceasefire deal came to an end and negotiations on a second phase stalled.
Video Context: The Wall Street Journal has produced a comprehensive video analysis13 examining how the incident fits into the broader pattern of risks faced by humanitarian workers in Gaza and the challenges of delivering aid in a conflict zone.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly emphasized that their vehicles and personnel are clearly marked according to international humanitarian law precisely to prevent such tragedies.
Media Coverage and Narrative Shaping
An opinion piece in Al Jazeera criticizes Western media's handling of the incident, arguing that initial reports gave precedence to the Israeli version of events using phrases like "Israel says" or "the IDF states," even as evidence mounted to contradict these claims Al Jazeera14.
The piece argues that this approach reflects a systemic bias in which "Palestinians are presumed guilty" and must constantly prove their innocence and humanity, even in death. "These medics deserved to be believed. They deserved to be protected. And they deserve justice. But most of all, they deserved—as we all do—to be seen as human," the author concludes.
The Human Cost
Beyond the political and military implications, this incident represents a profound human tragedy. These were individuals who had dedicated themselves to saving lives amidst one of the world's most dangerous conflicts. The loss of 15 aid workers not only diminishes the humanitarian response capacity in a region desperately in need, but also raises troubling questions about the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones—a protection enshrined in international humanitarian law.
The heartbreaking final words of Rifat Radwan—"Forgive me, mom. I just wanted to help people. I wanted to save lives"—stand as a stark reminder of the individual human lives behind the statistics and headlines.
Looking Forward
As investigators continue to examine the details of this tragedy, the international community faces difficult questions about accountability, the protection of humanitarian workers, and the enforcement of international humanitarian law in active conflict zones.
Interactive Timeline: For a comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to and following the March 23 incident, viewers can access an interactive video timeline15 produced by multiple news organizations, which combines footage from various sources to establish a chronology of events.
The changing narrative surrounding this incident underscores the importance of independent verification, transparency, and the vital role of evidence in establishing truth in conflict zones. Most importantly, it reminds us that behind every statistic are human beings whose stories deserve to be told accurately and whose lives deserve to be valued.
In a conflict where narratives are often as fiercely contested as territory, the evidence provided by Rifat Radwan's phone may prove to be his most enduring legacy—a voice speaking truth from beyond the grave.
Editor's Note: This blog post contains references to videos and images that some readers may find disturbing. The videos have been included for their evidentiary value and to provide a complete account of this significant event.