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Today in Focus

How phone footage exposed a massacre of Gaza paramedics

Apr 11, 2025
Bethan McKernan, The Guardian's Jerusalem correspondent, sheds light on a tragic attack resulting in the deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics in Gaza. She discusses the chilling smartphone footage that captured the chaos and challenges faced by medical workers on the ground. The conversation dives deep into the implications of these killings as potential war crimes, spotlighting human rights concerns and the culture of impunity in conflict zones. McKernan emphasizes the vital role of evidence in seeking justice amidst immense human suffering.
30:26

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Quick takeaways

  • The emergence of mobile phone footage has challenged the Israeli Defense Forces' narrative and highlighted the urgent need for independent investigations.
  • Eyewitness accounts and the deaths of healthcare workers have intensified international calls for accountability and the protection of humanitarian responders in conflict zones.

Deep dives

The Tragic Incident of March 23rd

In the early hours of March 23rd, a convoy of emergency vehicles searching for missing Palestinian medics encountered gunfire, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals, including paramedics. The convoy, clearly marked as emergency responders, was under the impression that they were responding to a distress situation. Video footage from a paramedic who died during the incident contradicts claims that the vehicles did not have their lights on and were suspicious. This footage revealed that they were indeed emergency vehicles, instigating a significant controversy regarding the actions of Israeli soldiers.

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