Humanitarian groups accuse Israel of covering up deaths of 15 aid workers

Officials with the Israeli Defense Force may be trying to hide the truth about what happened

to 15 first responders sent to provide aid in Gaza, according to humanitarian groups

The new development comes after a mass grave was uncovered in the Gaza Strip last month

UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher confirms the emergency aid workers were found buried near their damaged

clearly marked vehicles. The group consisted of members from the Palestinian Civil Defense

UN and the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The bodies were recovered by their fellow colleagues

A video shows them carrying each person wrapped in a white sheet. The UN Agency for Palestinian

Refugees also expressed condemnation of their deaths on social media. The post saying in part

these were humanitarian workers and in Gaza, these killings have become routine

According to UNRWA, the death toll of first responders has now exceeded 400 since the start

of the war between Israel and Hamas. UN data reveals that more than 1,000 health care workers

have been killed in the past 18 months. The group first disappeared in Rafah on March 23rd while

providing aid to the injured. CBS News reports Israeli defense forces initially said in late

March that the military opened fire because the vehicles were advancing near their troops without

emergency signals or lights. But on Monday, the IDF confirmed an in-depth inquiry is now being

conducted to uncover the truth. The initial reports described the area as a combat zone

resulting in troops opening fire due to a perceived threat after a previous encounter The individuals killed were identified as Hamas members However Palestine Red Crescent says video captured by one of the medics shows an opposite account

Logos of their aid mission and flashing lights can be seen before five minutes of heavy gunfire

erupts. I heard the voice of one of those team members who was killed

and his phone was found with his body and he recorded the whole event

His last words before being shot Forgive me, mom. I just wanted to help people

I wanted to save lives. And then he was killed. The PRCS says an autopsy proves the killing was intentional, saying the preliminary forensic

report confirmed that the medics were killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the upper parts

of their bodies. The organization also says the Central Dispatch Center confirms the gunfire

continued for at least two hours until contact with the medics was eventually lost. The PRCS

says they confirmed the area was not considered a red zone, meaning there were no reports of

active combat within the area. The group say they want Israel to be held responsible for the deaths

but they also urge nations around the world to break their silence, warning that more Palestinians

will die if action is not taken. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey. Find more unbiased

fact-based news right now on the Straight Arrow News mobile app