Autopsy results from 14 of 15 Palestinian rescue workers killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza last month have revealed gunshot wounds to the head and chest, along with injuries from explosive munitions, a Gaza-based forensic pathologist confirmed.
Ahmed Dhair, who led the examinations, reported signs of “explosive bullets” and fragment injuries in several bodies. One victim showed an exploded bullet lodged in the chest. The victims included staff from the Palestinian Red Crescent, civil defence teams, and UN agencies, all of whom were on a humanitarian mission when targeted.
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Footage showed clearly marked ambulances coming under fire, and UN sources later reported that the victims were buried in a sandy mass grave by Israeli troops—raising fears of summary executions. While the IDF claims some victims were affiliated with Hamas, no public evidence has been provided, and the Red Crescent has strongly denied the accusation.
Human rights groups have described the findings as potential war crimes. The UN and aid organizations have condemned the killings and ongoing restrictions on humanitarian access, as Gaza’s death toll climbs above 51,000 amid deepening civilian suffering.
Israel says it is internally investigating the incident, but mounting international pressure continues to call for transparency and accountability.
