After 15 Gaza medics were killed, Israel changed its story multiple times, echoing past cases

Israel is facing fresh international scrutiny after the deaths of 15 Palestinian medics and civil defence workers in Gaza, with critics accusing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of reverting to a well-worn playbook of denial, deflection and blame-shifting seen in past high-profile civilian killings.

The medics were killed on 23 March as they responded to emergency calls. Initially, the IDF denied wrongdoing, claiming the ambulances had approached Israeli troops “suspiciously” without headlights or emergency markers. But footage later emerged showing the vehicles lit, with paramedics wearing high-visibility vests. As pressure mounted, Israel altered its narrative.

Without offering evidence, Israeli officials then alleged six of the dead had links to Hamas—though they were unarmed. Last week, IDF briefings to Israeli media adopted a familiar justification: that soldiers believed they were under threat and that Hamas has previously used ambulances to transport weapons or fighters.

The evolving explanations have drawn comparisons to past IDF responses, particularly the 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett initially blamed Palestinian militants. Under mounting evidence, the military admitted an Israeli soldier had fired the shot, but called it accidental and denied any intent.

As veteran Middle East correspondent Peter Beaumont notes, these shifts have become routine. “At first, the IDF denies involvement. If that fails, it casts suspicion on the victims or blames Hamas. When evidence disproves that too, it’s described as a mistake—not a result of policy, but of human error,” Beaumont wrote.

In the latest case, a pro-Israel social media account circulated a blurry video purporting to show a medic holding a weapon. But German broadcaster Deutsche Welle analysed the clip and concluded the “weapon” was a shadow cast by emergency lighting.

Rights groups say this strategy often muddies the waters ahead of investigations. Israel’s Military Advocate General, tasked with probing alleged misconduct, rarely presses serious charges. According to human rights organisation Yesh Din, of 664 complaints reviewed over a decade of major military operations, only 41 led to criminal investigations, most targeting low-level soldiers. Senior commanders were never charged.

Yesh Din’s analysis concluded that the system “is designed to avoid responsibility while giving the impression that a process is taking place.”

Now, even Israel’s staunchest European ally, Germany, is voicing unease. After video footage of the March incident surfaced, German foreign ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner called for accountability. “An investigation and accountability of the perpetrators are urgently needed,” Wagner said on Monday. He warned that failure to investigate could damage Israel’s standing as a constitutional democracy.

Haaretz defence analyst Amos Harel suggested the issue may run deeper than inconsistent public relations. He referenced leaked footage of an IDF commander briefing troops before returning to Gaza: “Anyone you encounter there is an enemy. You identify anyone, you eliminate him,” the commander said. The implication is that Gaza civilians—regardless of their roles—are being indiscriminately treated as combatants.

The incident has re-energised critics who say Israeli military operations in Gaza have increasingly blurred the lines between targeting militants and targeting civilians. The death of medical workers, especially those clearly marked and performing humanitarian duties, has only intensified the outcry.

As international pressure builds, calls are growing for an independent investigation outside of Israel’s military justice system—one that could probe not just individual soldiers, but the broader command structure and military doctrine that shapes battlefield conduct.