RAFAH, Palestine – A video recovered from the mobile phone of a Palestinian medic killed last month in Gaza appears to contradict the Israeli military’s account of an attack that left 15 humanitarian workers dead, including eight from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
The footage, released on Saturday, April 5, 2025, by the PRCS, was recorded by Rifat Radwan, a medic who died in the 23rd March incident in Rafah’s Tal as-Sultan neighbourhood.
It shows medics in reflective uniforms inside a clearly marked PRCS ambulance moments before they came under fire.
The Israeli military had previously stated that its forces “did not randomly attack” ambulances and instead fired on what it described as “terrorists” approaching in “suspicious vehicles”.
It claimed the vehicles advanced without headlights or emergency signals.
The footage, apparently filmed from inside a moving vehicle, shows a red fire truck and ambulances travelling at night before stopping roadside.
Two uniformed men exit, only for intense gunfire to erupt seconds later.
Voices of medics can be heard, with one saying, “The vehicle, the vehicle,” and another responding, “It seems to be an accident.”
The screen then goes black amid sustained gunfire.
Radwan is later heard reciting the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, traditionally uttered in moments of mortal danger.
“There is no God but God, Muhammad is his messenger,” he repeats, his voice trembling.
He also says, “Forgive me, mother, because I chose this way, the way of helping people,” before adding, “Accept my martyrdom, God, and forgive me.”
In the final seconds, he exclaims, “The Jews are coming, the Jews are coming,” apparently referring to approaching Israeli soldiers.
The PRCS stated the convoy was responding to emergency calls following an Israeli bombardment.
According to Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal, several victims were found with their hands and feet bound, bearing close-range gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
One body was decapitated, while others were dismembered.
Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine, said the workers were discovered “in their uniforms, still wearing gloves”.
An Israeli military official said the bodies had been covered “in sand and cloth” to preserve them until retrieval could be coordinated.
The military added that the incident is under investigation.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the killings, telling the Security Council on Thursday that they “raise further concerns over the commission of war crimes”.
He called for an “independent, prompt and thorough investigation”.
Gaza’s Government Media Office labelled the attack a “brutal and unprecedented execution”, accusing Israel of systematic targeting.
Hamas described the video as “irrefutable visual evidence” disproving Israel’s claims.
Since the war began on 7th October 2023, at least 408 aid workers—including over 280 UNRWA staff—have been killed in Gaza, according to UN figures. More than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in the conflict.
