Palestinian Red Crescent Says Israel's Investigation Of The Murder Of Gaza Aid Workers Is Not Enough

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Palestinian Red Crescent on Monday called for a "serious investigation" into the killing of 15 aid workers in Gaza last month, a day after the Israeli military acknowledged "professional failure" and disciplined two officers for the incident.

The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Younish Al-Katib said he did not consider the actions taken by the Israeli military, which reprimanded an officer and fired another from his post, as sufficient action.

"This looks like the management of a company that took administrative action against its employees who made a mistake," he told Reuters.

"When you kill 15 medical staff and civil defense personnel, this cannot be called an "act"," he stressed.

"There must be appropriate accountability and impunity cessation that Israel has been accepting for years," Al-Khatib added.

Earlier, the Israeli military on Sunday said members of a special forces unit in Gaza had made a number of errors in three separate incidents on March 23, where they opened fire on ambulances, fire trucks and UN vehicles.

The Israeli military issued an official warning to a brigade commander, while a deputy battalion commander who was on the ground when the incident occurred would be dismissed from office, for failing professionally and violating orders, and failing to report the incident in full.

After initially saying soldiers opened fire on an unsigned vehicle close to their position, the military confirmed the vehicle was clearly marked as an emergency vehicle.

However, the investigation found the army could not clearly see in the dark.

The military's army chief general's office can now take further action, including possible criminal acts against the army, the military said.

The killing of aid workers has drawn criticism around the world, increasing pressure on the military to clarify what has happened and hold those responsible.

Al-Katib said Israel's military investigation led by former Major General Yoav Har-Even was not in line with the seriousness of the incident, which added to the number of casualties of more than 400 Palestinian emergency and health workers killed in the conflict, including 44 from the Red Crescent.

"We don't consider it an appropriate investigation," Al-Khatib said, urging an independent international investigation.

On the other hand, he said the Red Crescent would continue to work in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.