Autopsies conducted on the bodies of slain Gaza paramedics and rescue workers revealed that the majority of the victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head or chest. Some also sustained shrapnel injuries or other wounds.
Israeli troops fired upon ambulances and a fire truck belonging to the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Civil Defense. Witness accounts, videos, and audio recordings corroborate this account. The attack, which occurred on March 23, resulted in the deaths of 15 men – 14 rescue workers and a UN employee.
Israel acknowledged the attack but provided shifting explanations for its actions. They claimed, without providing evidence, that some of the victims were Hamas operatives and stated they were investigating the incident. Israel's actions have drawn international condemnation and have been described by experts as war crimes.
The autopsies, conducted between April 1 and April 5, were reviewed by Dr. Arne Stray-Pedersen, a forensic pathologist, who consulted with Dr. Ahmad Dhair of the Gazan health ministry's forensic medicine unit. The Times reviewed the autopsy results for all victims except the UN employee.