Israeli official insists army has ‘nothing to conceal’ after aid workers are killed in disputed Rafah incident; MPs deported over alleged anti-Israel stance
Israel has declared it is conducting a “thorough” internal investigation after its military fatally shot 15 emergency personnel in southern Gaza, insisting it has “nothing to hide” regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Speaking to Sky News, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer defended the actions of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), who opened fire on 23 March near Rafah. He claimed the convoy was behaving “suspiciously” and was fired upon “from a distance.”
Ambulances bearing clear insignia and flashing red lights were visible in footage of the strike, which sparked outrage and calls for an independent probe.
When challenged on why Israel has refused to permit external investigators, Mencer said, “Israel is not afraid of the truth… but Hamas has repeatedly exploited ambulances to transport militants. That’s a matter of public record.”
He stopped short of confirming whether the IDF had verified the presence of Hamas operatives in the convoy prior to opening fire. However, he reiterated that a detailed inquiry is under way and that the findings would be made public.
Earlier this week, the IDF issued a preliminary statement asserting that six of the individuals killed were later identified as affiliated with Hamas. It pledged that “all aspects” of the incident would be evaluated and reviewed transparently.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society condemned the deaths as “atrocious” and demanded an impartial investigation. Independent analysis by Sky’s data and forensics team disputed Israel’s initial assertion that the strike occurred in an active combat zone.
Pressed on this, Mencer responded: “I won’t comment on speculative claims while a professional investigation is ongoing. But emergency vehicles should never be used as cover for terror activity.”
In a separate diplomatic development, two British Labour MPs—Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed—were denied entry to Israel, sparking political backlash in Westminster. The parliamentarians had travelled as part of a delegation intending to assess aid operations in the West Bank.
Mencer accused them of pushing for boycotts and spreading what he described as “false allegations” against Israel, saying, “Those who campaign for sanctions seek the end of the Israeli state by other means.”
Following their deportation, the MPs issued a joint statement expressing “shock” and calling the move “unprecedented and deeply concerning.” They stressed the importance of lawmakers witnessing the situation in occupied Palestinian territories first-hand.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Israel’s decision, describing it as “unacceptable” and “deeply concerning.”
In closing, Mencer asserted Israel’s right to self-defence and dismissed criticism as politically motivated: “We will always uphold our democratic values, regardless of the ideological trends others may follow.”
