Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza
Gaza, Mar 29: The Israeli military on Saturday acknowledged firing at ambulances in the Gaza Strip, citing them as ‘suspicious vehicles,’ a move that Hamas has condemned as a ‘war crime.’
According to an Israeli military statement, troops opened fire after spotting vehicles advancing suspiciously. "A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops... The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists," the statement read.
The military’s initial inquiry confirmed that some of the targeted vehicles included ambulances and fire trucks. It also accused "terrorist organizations in Gaza" of misusing ambulances for militant activities.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported losing contact with six rescuers from Tal al-Sultan who had been dispatched to aid casualties. By Friday, officials confirmed the recovery of their team leader’s body, along with the wreckage of their ambulance and firefighting vehicle. A Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance was also destroyed in the attack.
In a separate operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike on an unmanned storage facility linked to Hezbollah's air unit.
"The Hezbollah terrorist organization placed its infrastructure in the heart of the civilian population. This is another example of Hezbollah’s cynical use of Lebanese citizens as human shields," an IDF spokesperson stated.
The targeted facility, located in Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood, was hit after an evacuation warning was issued to residents in the area.