In a harrowing revelation following the United Nations' accusations against Israel for the deaths of 15 humanitarian workers in Gaza, officials have confirmed that many of the workers were shot multiple times before being interred in a mass grave. The recoveries have sparked widespread international condemnation and raised serious questions about the protection of humanitarian workers in conflict zones.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society, which lost eight of its members in this tragedy, reported that nearly all the bodies displayed gunshot wounds. A particularly alarming detail emerged regarding one paramedic, whose hands and feet were bound close to his body. "My colleagues were shot; the bodies we retrieved showed multiple gunshot wounds. They were all buried together in a mass grave, covered with sand," said Nebal Farsakh, a spokeswoman for the Society, in a telephone interview from Ramallah.

The tragic events unfolded on March 23, when ambulances and a U.N. vehicle came under fire in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, subsequently going silent. Rescue teams uncovered the 15 bodies days later, most of which were found in a shallow grave alongside crushed ambulances and a vehicle marked with the U.N. logo. In a rare move, the United Nations held Israel responsible for the killings.

Israel's military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, responded on social media, claiming that nine of the deceased were Palestinian militants and that the attack on the ambulance was not arbitrary. He insisted that those vehicles were identified as suspicious and were moving without lights towards Israeli troops, justifying the military's actions. “When Hamas terrorists operate in active combat zones — using humanitarian vehicles as cover — Israel will do whatever it takes to protect its soldiers and citizens,” stated Jonathan Harounoff, spokesperson for Israel's U.N. mission.

Forensic expert Dr. Ahmad Dhair conducted autopsies on several bodies and discovered multiple bullet wounds, with evidence that some were shot at close range. "Some of them were shot in the head from behind," he detailed, indicating that the attack was not only lethal but possibly premeditated. Further examinations revealed bruising and signs of potential restraint, raising alarm over the treatment of the humanitarian workers before their deaths.

The United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have confirmed they are conducting internal reviews of the incident, calling for an independent investigation into what they describe as a severe violation of humanitarian law.

Jonathan Whittall, head of the U.N.'s humanitarian agency for Palestinian territories, emphasized that the paramedics were in full uniform, traveling in marked vehicles, and posed no threat when they were attacked. "They were on their way to help wounded civilians in Rafah as Israeli forces advanced. Each ambulance was hit sequentially," Whittall recounted, highlighting the urgent need for accountability in this escalating conflict.

Worryingly, one member of the Palestine Red Crescent Society remains unaccounted for, while another who was part of the first ambulance was detained by Israeli forces and later released. He reported that the ambulances were sprayed with gunfire, killing colleagues seated inside.

As the investigation unfolds, the international community is left grappling with the tragic loss of life and the ever-narrowing space for humanitarian operations in conflict zones like Gaza. Calls for justice and protection for those working on the front lines seem more critical than ever as this situation continues to develop.