By Oliver Towfigh Nia
BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Wednesday urged a “comprehensive investigation" into the Israeli massacre of Palestinian medics in Gaza.
We find these incidents "very disturbing," Deputy Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer told journalists in Berlin.
“We state again very clearly: civilians, as well as medical and humanitarian personnel, and aid workers assisting people on the ground in this terrible crisis, must not be targeted, and we also believe that a comprehensive investigation into these incidents is necessary,” she added.
Earlier in the day, the German Foreign Ministry criticized Israel's killing of medics on X.
“With a high number of fatalities, including eight medics of the Palestine Red Crescent Society killed in an Israeli military operation in #Gaza, we firmly reiterate our stance: Humanitarian workers and medics risk their own lives to provide support to others. They are #NOTATARGET.”
On Tuesday, the UN called Israel's killing of Palestinian medics and first responders on a rescue mission in the southern Gaza Strip "unacceptable."
"We've had 283 of our colleagues, UNRWA (UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees) colleagues, killed in Gaza since Oct. 7," 2023, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference, adding that at least "408 humanitarians, aid workers killed since the ceasefire broke down."
“All of that is unacceptable. Any targeting of humanitarian workers, of ambulance drivers who are doing their job is unacceptable," he said.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society announced Sunday the recovery of 14 bodies after the Israeli attack. The victims included eight Red Crescent workers, five Civil Defense personnel, and a staff member from a UN agency.
It came days after the Palestinian Civil Defense said it had recovered the body of a team member killed by Israeli forces, bringing the total number of deaths from the attack to 15.
"We will continue to press for investigations. We'll continue to press for answers," stressed Dujarric.
When asked what an investigation into the deaths of medics and humanitarian workers would look like, Dujarric said: "For the Israeli authorities to explain to us how these humanitarian workers happen to have been killed by Israeli fire, including one of our own colleagues."
He was also asked if the UN would pursue a "neutral" investigation.
"We want something to be done transparently, and we want information to be shared," he said.
The Israeli army targeted the medics on March 23 as they were on their way to provide first aid to the victims of an Israeli shelling in the Al-Hashashin area.
The attack in Rafah on the Palestine Red Crescent and the Civil Defense highlighted the dangers that humanitarian workers face in Gaza, risking their lives to save others and deliver aid.
The horrific crime triggered wide condemnation from international rights and UN groups, who demanded answers for the killings.
Israel began a surprise aerial campaign on Gaza on March 18 and has since killed more than 1,000 victims and injured over 2,000, shattering a January ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.
More than 50,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in Israel's military onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.