America News Agency

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), members of the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and civil defense were on duty rescuing their wounded colleagues when their vehicle came under heavy Israeli fire in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan area.

A Red Crescent official in Gaza said there is evidence that at least one person was detained and then executed, and one of the bodies was found with hands tied.

The attack occurred on March 23, a day after Israel renewed its offensive in an area near the Egyptian border. Another PRCS worker on duty is reported missing.

Jonathan Whittall, head of Ocha in Palestine, said in a video statement: “Seven days ago, civil defense and PRCS ambulances arrived at the scene. Medical and civil defense workers were shot one by one. Their bodies were collected and buried in this mass grave.”

Whittall added: “We’re pulling them out in their uniforms, with their gloves. They were here to save lives. Instead, they were buried in a mass grave. These ambulances were buried in the sand. There’s a UN vehicle buried here. A bulldozer from the Israeli forces buried them.”

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, said one of his staff members was among the dead in Rafah.

In a social media post, Lazzarini wrote: “The body of our colleague killed in Rafah was found yesterday along with Palestinian Red Crescent responders. All were thrown into shallow graves. A deep violation of human dignity.”