Rescue operations were carried out to recover the bodies of 15 aid workers in southern Rafah on March 27, 2025. The bodies were found in what the United Nations has described as a “mass grave.”
Out of the 14 bodies recovered from the site in southern Rafah, eight were identified as members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), five as civil defense workers, and one as a UN agency employee, PRCS reported. A PRCS medic is still missing.
An additional body, belonging to a civil defense worker, was recovered last Thursday after initial difficulties gaining access to the area, as reported by PRCS. The Israeli military has yet to respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The aid workers had gone missing a week prior, following attacks by Israeli forces in southern Rafah. The Israeli military claimed they had fired on the ambulances and fire trucks because they were being used as cover by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants.
The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from aid organizations and the UN, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent calling it the most deadly incident involving IFRC workers in almost ten years. The targeting of medics has been labeled a war crime by PRCS, punishable under international law.
The bodies were recovered from beneath the sand after a week-long rescue operation involving bulldozers and heavy machinery, according to OCHA. The head of UNOCHA in the occupied Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, described the scene as a mass grave of first responders and paramedics.
UNOCHA shared a video showing emergency responders digging through the sand to reach the victims, some of whom were found wearing PRCS vests and showing signs of decomposition. It is believed that the initial team dispatched to the area were killed by Israeli forces on March 23, with subsequent emergency crews also coming under fire as they searched for their missing colleagues.
Ambulances, UN vehicles, and civil defense vehicles were discovered crushed and buried under the sand, leading to accusations against Israeli forces of attempting to cover up the scene.
In response to Israeli attacks, Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that Israeli forces besieged the area, leading to a complete loss of communication with their teams. Gaza’s Civil Defense also stated that six of its staff went missing after being dispatched to the same area following a sudden incursion by Israeli forces. The Israeli military claimed to have opened fire on suspicious vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks, advancing towards troops without prior coordination. They said they had eliminated Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants by firing on the vehicles, condemning the use of civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes.
The attacks occurred shortly after Israel renewed its assault on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 921 Palestinians and injuries to over 2,000 others, according to Gaza Ministry of Health. Israeli strikes on Sunday and Monday alone claimed over 80 lives. Israel also blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza in an attempt to pressure Hamas during ceasefire negotiations.
International aid organizations condemned Israel’s attacks on medical facilities and personnel, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilians, humanitarians, and health services. Hospitals in Gaza have been heavily targeted by Israeli forces, accusing them of harboring Hamas operatives. Over 400 aid workers have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with PRCS reporting that 27 of its staff have been killed by Israeli forces in the line of duty.
According to PCRS, the actions of Red Crescent medics constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law, which the occupation persists in violating, as witnessed by the global community. Meanwhile, health officials in Gaza reported that the death toll has exceeded 50,000 since October 7, highlighting the ongoing conflict with no resolution in sight. Reporting by CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Dana Karni. Stay updated with CNN news and newsletters by signing up at CNN.com.
