JERUSALEM: In a dramatic turn of events, the Israeli military has altered its initial narrative regarding the tragic killing of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza, an incident that has drawn international scrutiny and outrage.

The military confirmed that investigators are still gathering evidence surrounding the shocking events that occurred on March 23.

The victims, 15 paramedics and emergency responders, were fatally shot in Rafah and their bodies subsequently discovered in a shallow grave a week later by officials from the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Heartbreakingly, one additional worker remains unaccounted for.

Initially, the Israeli military claimed that its soldiers had fired upon vehicles that approached suspiciously in the dark without any distinguishing lights or markings. They asserted that they had targeted and killed nine militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad traveling in Palestinian Red Crescent vehicles.

However, new evidence has emerged that casts doubt on this narrative. Video footage obtained from the mobile phone of one of the deceased workers and released by the Palestinian Red Crescent shows emergency personnel in identifiable uniforms and clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks actively responding to an incident when they came under fire. Their vehicles had their lights on—contradicting military claims of a 'suspicious' approach.

Eyewitness accounts further complicate the military's story. Munther Abed, the lone survivor from the attack and a paramedic with the Palestinian Red Crescent, corroborated that soldiers indiscriminately opened fire on their clearly marked emergency vehicles.

An Israeli military official acknowledged on April 5 that investigators were scrutinizing the video evidence, with findings set to be presented to army commanders shortly thereafter. Reports from Israeli media, sourced from military briefings, indicated that troops had identified at least six of the deceased as members of militant organizations, but no substantial evidence to support these claims was offered.

'From our intelligence, we suspect there were terrorists present, but the investigation is ongoing,' stated the official during a press briefing, fueling further concerns regarding transparency in the military's operations.

In response to this shocking incident, both the UN and the Palestinian Red Cross are calling for an independent investigation into the killings of these innocent paramedics. Following the deadly assault, 17 emergency workers had been deployed amidst conflict-related injuries from Israeli airstrikes, a tragic indication of the situation’s intensity.

The military’s account detailed a sequence of events that suggests an escalation in tension. It stated that soldiers first opened fire on a vehicle at around 4 AM, killing two members of Hamas’s internal security forces and capturing another who supposedly confessed to his affiliations. This event marked the commencement of their engagement process.

As dawn broke and more vehicles appeared, military officials claim troops received intelligence of a 'suspicious group' approaching around 6 AM. 'They believed this might be another incident similar to what had happened early in the morning and opened fire,' the official explained. However, he rejected allegations that troops had handcuffed paramedics or shot them at close range, asserting that all fire was opened from a distance.

Despite efforts to present the shooting as a justified encounter with militants, skepticism remains prevalent regarding military accountability. Notably, the military did inform the UN about the incident the same day, alleging that they took steps to protect the bodies from wild animals by covering them with sand.

This incident raises pressing questions regarding the conduct of military operations in conflict zones, especially concerning the treatment of aid workers. The demand for transparency and an independent investigation continues to gain momentum as the story unfolds, prompting outrage around the world.

This is not just another incident; it’s a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding warfare and humanitarian efforts.